[ABR]

I have never owned a BMW before and originally wanted new Lexus IS, so BMW purchase had happed by accident and wasn’t planned at all.

I was sold primary on car’s handling feel and capabilities, which overcame some of shortcomings. But some things changed after 90 days… Here is my list:

1. E90 interior was a big turnoff for me originally. I looked too plain, boring with stone aged control buttons. On practice, it turns to be very well thought, all controls can be accessed conveniently and it is not cluttered. Five stars now.

2. I didn’t like wood and beige leather, but beige turns to look as a sharp color and not that difficult to maintain. After reading all posts about scratching aluminum (not only at BMW boards, but new Lexus too), I’m pretty happy with wood (it is not that big deal anymore).

3. Tail lights. I think I like them now. Anybody else?

4. Style 159 rims. The 162 rims are sharp, but standard 159 rims look really nice in real life and easy to clean. I won’t change them.

5. Door illumination. I really liked at first (it works very well with white car), but now they a bit annoying me. I think they look cheesy, like under car illumination. I would gladly turn them off if I could.


That pretty much it for me. Feel free to add yours…..

[Arkansas3]

the door illumination is one of my favorite features! i only wish they lit up as i got close to the car (with comfort access).

[espo]

Originally Posted by Arkansas3

the door illumination is one of my favorite features! i only wish they lit up as i got close to the car (with comfort access).

Yea I wish that would happen too.. I can even get the car door open before the interior lights come on. Don't think this should be all that hard, unless the CA sensors are different and shorter range from the ones that receive the signal from the FOB (I think they are though).

I also wish that I could open the back doors by grabing the handle if I get out of the car and forget I locked them. I have the car programed to open all the doors when I grap the drivers door, but if you get out of the car with the drivers door unlocked, but the rear door locked, you actually have to lock the car, then unlock it to get the back door open (or use the unlock button on the FOB, but that would go against the CA principles!!)

Dislikes: Storage space is more limited than in the E46 (why did they have to get rid of the nice space below the radio?). Cup holders really are bad (but I don't drink in the car most of the time, two busy shifting..)

Likes: Power (went from a E46 325xi to a E90 330xi)... Boy is that a difference. Sport Seats and steering wheel... The fact that this car is a manual (first one and I still learning how to really drive it, but it really is a blast), and, oh yea, the Handling of the car.

[ksfrogman]

When I first saw spy photos of the up and coming e90, I had a problem with what they would be doing to the tail lights design. However, I started liking them a long time ago, and feel the "L-shaped" stock ones looked more traditional than the Blacklines.

I despise the iDrive WARNING/accept disclaimer screen. Do we really need to look at that gawd awful reminder everytime we start the car?

I'm still waiting for the correct owner's manual to my vehicle. The one that actually has info on the iDrive and Navigation.

The 330i still gives me the biggest smile when I get in it and drive!

[Carnage]

Originally Posted by ABR

I have never owned a BMW before and originally wanted new Lexus IS, so BMW purchase had happed by accident and wasn’t planned at all.

I was sold primary on car’s handling feel and capabilities, which overcame some of shortcomings. But some things changed after 90 days… Here is my list:

1. E90 interior was a big turnoff for me originally. I looked too plain, boring with stone aged control buttons. On practice, it turns to be very well thought, all controls can be accessed conveniently and it is not cluttered. Five stars now.

2. I didn’t like wood and beige leather, but beige turns to look as a sharp color and not that difficult to maintain. After reading all posts about scratching aluminum (not only at BMW boards, but new Lexus too), I’m pretty happy with wood (it is not that big deal anymore).

3. Tail lights. I think I like them now. Anybody else?

4. Style 159 rims. The 162 rims are sharp, but standard 159 rims look really nice in real life and easy to clean. I won’t change them.

5. Door illumination. I really liked at first (it works very well with white car), but now they a bit annoying me. I think they look cheesy, like under car illumination. I would gladly turn them off if I could.


That pretty much it for me. Feel free to add yours…..

Glad to hear you're enjoy the car so much. As far as the tailights go, I've always liked them. Yes, I seen comments about how they remind some people of other vehicles but I think the car looks great all the way around.

I really like my Style 159's as well, they're my 2nd best choice after the 199's I just bought. I get at least one "those are really nice wheels" comments every week. I mounted my winter tires on them so I'll still get to use them for 4-5 months a year.

Good luck , hope the rest of the time you own the car goes as good as the 1st 90 days.

[StewtheBassman]

I'm with you on 1-4, and on 5, well I like the lights. Call me cheesy! : )


KSFrogman, can't you get that owner's manual online either here or at Bimmerfest?????

[David328M-Sport]

I love and enjoy all aspects of my e90. So much better than my old e36 and e46 cars. BMW 3 series has come of age with the release of the e90.

[CALIF65GM]

Likes:
1. CA
2. Door lighting
3. Manual mode in Step
4. The sport seats, you just don't slide/move in them.

Dislikes as I've driven the car
1. Lack of storage in the console and no place for coins (using the ashtray) or CDs.
2. The CA for the trunk is not quite as sensitive.
3. Having to pull on the door handle twice to unlock when getting out of the car. Somehow I think it's going to break the handle sooner.
Car really should be able to unlock when you put it into P or N.

[txusa03]

Originally Posted by ABR

1. E90 interior was a big turnoff for me originally. I looked too plain, boring with stone aged control buttons. On practice, it turns to be very well thought, all controls can be accessed conveniently and it is not cluttered. Five stars now.

5. Door illumination. I really liked at first (it works very well with white car), but now they a bit annoying me. I think they look cheesy, like under car illumination. I would gladly turn them off if I could.

That pretty much it for me. Feel free to add yours…..

I disagreed on these 2. If 5 stars is the highest rating, I would give the interior a 4 stars due to the location of the radio display not visible during bright sun light in the afternoon. 5th, the door illumination is very distinct features that no other makes has, hence I like it.

[KL2DC]

I was cross shopping an IS250 and the E90 325i and although the IS wins hands down on paper, specs and on showroom appeal, the BMW just has an intrinsic visceral quality that is often quite hard to put in words ...and its nothing to do with badge snobbery as I had put an equal thumbs down on the W203 230 sedan with the V6 and 7G tranny.

[Helmar]

Originally Posted by CALIF65GM

2. The CA for the trunk is not quite as sensitive.

CALIF65GM:

The trunk sensor is actually a microswitch, not quite "Touch" sensitive.

If you touch it, and then gently press it, you'll feel the microswitch click.

If you just touch it, without clicking the microswitch, it won't open.

[cntlaw]

Good to see you mentioned nothing about car problems after 90 days!

[RGB]

Yesterday I tested a IS250 auto. In Spain it costs about the same than an 325i -auto too-, but the Lexus was full of extras, comfort access, very good stereo that reads MPG3, premium leather, excelent wood trim, very light steering standstill, and many other little things that make daily use a pleasure.
Of course you can have all this -not the same high quality- if you pay it, but very, very expensive.
May be the BMW will go 10 mph faster in a given bend, but... is that really so important?

[ABR]

Originally Posted by RGB

May be the BMW will go 10 mph faster in a given bend, but... is that really so important?

It is not about which car is faster (IS350 is faster then 330i on a straight line), but how car is feels on the road.
I'm enjoying driving process and BMW is way better car then Lexus IS. If you like electronic gadgets, hand down to Lexus toys like touch screen navigation, ML audio system and such.

It is question of luxury vs. driving experience. Make you mind and your decision will be easy. Both cars are good choice.

[CALIF65GM]

Originally Posted by Helmar

CALIF65GM:

The trunk sensor is actually a microswitch, not quite "Touch" sensitive.

If you touch it, and then gently press it, you'll feel the microswitch click.

If you just touch it, without clicking the microswitch, it won't open.

Helmar: Thanks for the info. I'll try that. I was getting kind of frustrated today and was about to pull the fob out of my pocket to unlock the trunk ...LOL

Actually sometimes it works well and sometimes it doesn't. I can hear the click to open too.