Saloon or Coupe?

FieldingMellish · 02-09-2011, 02:23 PM

Looking to trade my 320d M Sport saloon in for a 330i. First impulse was to go for another M Sport. But if I went for an SE coupee, I'd get most of what I like about the M Sport, and I'd get fancy features like electric seats. Which is good because I promised myself my next car would have memory seats. But only recently did I discover that not all SE coupes have Sport seats. Can't imagine having a coupe with those awful standard seats!

Any thoughts on whether to go for a saloon or coupe? Main advantage of a coupe I guess is that it looks better. I don't think my budget is going to stretch to a post-LCI saloon, and the 'old' E90 saloon - like the one I've got - is starting to look a bit old now. ALways hated that ugly 'moustache' grill.

But is it worth the extra cash for a coupe? And won't I have trouble putting my 4 year old into a car seat in the back of a coupe? Plus I don't like the SE wheels, the M Sport wheels are all much nicer.

Aghhhh! Dilemma!

toxicnerve · 02-09-2011, 02:33 PM

So...

E92 M-Sport?

It's the way forward. To me the car feels much more special than an E90...IMO it's just a much more elegant looking car with the low roof line and "slimmer" back end. I think the coupes come with a higher level of spec as standard too (eg AFAIK all E92 have xenons etc).

Not sure about getting the kids in the back but I convinced the missus the E92 would be fine, it has ISOFIX so it's gotta be right?!

no_ball · 02-09-2011, 02:34 PM

with a 10 year old and regular visits to the shopping centres and other suchlike limited parking bay areas, the saloon is the practical solution.

FieldingMellish · 02-09-2011, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toxicnerve

So...

E92 M-Sport?

It's the way forward. To me the car feels much more special than an E90...IMO it's just a much more elegant looking car with the low roof line and "slimmer" back end. I think the coupes come with a higher level of spec as standard too (eg AFAIK all E92 have xenons etc).

Not sure about getting the kids in the back but I convinced the missus the E92 would be fine, it has ISOFIX so it's gotta be right?!

Indeed. Isofix a must. But E92 M Sport? I dunno. Going to have to compromise somewhere, budget wise. I'm not that sure you get much mire for your money, upgrading from an SE coupe to an M Sport. I mean, you get sport suspension, and although it's not standard, most SE coupes have sport seats. Yes the wheels on the M Sport are nicer, and you get that black headliner, which I love. But is it really worth the hike in price?

AlanQS · 02-09-2011, 04:05 PM

Only the 335 SE has sports seats as standard, it's an option in all the other engine sizes. Only the 330 and 335 have all electric seats as standard, the 325 has had partial electric since March 2009.

Although the new 19" rims on the m-sport are very nice, the SE had 18" type 189 and 19" type 230 wheels as options and are two of the nicest looking BMW wheels you can get - and they only come with the SE version.

I used to get my kids into the back of a Capri - the E92 is an absolute doddle in comparison. The bigger doors make it more awkward in a tight car park however.

If the headlining colour is a serious obstacle, well, your choice.

Rear seats in the E92 are isofix as standard. New models now allow you to deactivate the passenger front airbag but certainly up to 2009, that was an option that no one took.

I have those awful front seats and I find nothing wrong with them. If I had my chance again I would take the sports seats whilst realising that damage to the bolster side of the standard seat would be worse in the sports seat.

zltm089 · 02-09-2011, 04:11 PM

Coupe all day!!!!......everyday!....

pjs · 02-09-2011, 04:12 PM

What are you prepared to spend OP?

briers · 02-09-2011, 04:19 PM

Saloon as more practical if you have kids.

Doors are big on the coupe which makes it more hassle parking with 2 kids. I think that is the only downside of the coupe.

A positive for me is being able to get into the car fully whilst strapping my 2 year old in.

Plus i think the coupe looks a bit nicer.

As for SE v M-Sport. M-Sport looks better. I went with SE myself. As the 335 comes with various m-sport tweaks but i miss the extra body trims. SE made sense for me because i could buy a car with a lot more equipment for the budget but can easily add the front aero kit later. Plus i love the 230 wheels on the coupe.

FieldingMellish · 02-09-2011, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pjs

What are you prepared to spend OP?

Why do you ask? I won't go to £20k.

FieldingMellish · 02-09-2011, 04:50 PM

No, the headliner is not a deal breaker but I am fond of it.

Didn't mean to be insulting about the 'awful' seats! I like the way the sport seats stop me sliding around, and I have got very used to being able to tilt my seat base.

Oh yeah, the coupe looks miles better than the saloon. Plus you get loads of kit with it.

Yes, wide doors can be inconvenient but I think I'm leaning towards a coupe, it seems more luxurious, and it does look slick.

jimmylad · 02-09-2011, 04:56 PM

has to be a coupe............ the saloons look so bland (99% of them) & blend into the traffic but I cant help but look if a coupe passes the other way

when I bought my e92 I bought it cos I liked the look of it & you often catch others giving the car a second look & I still find my self staring at mine ( especially when its had the porter cable treatment)

jimmylad · 02-09-2011, 05:06 PM

also........... not too big a deal for a family of 4 ( 17 year old & 13 year old)

everyone who has been in the back loves it

DavS1 · 02-09-2011, 05:29 PM

100% Coupé, it will be a slight compromise with the door thing in carparks but that's something I could easily live with for the sake of a sleeker looking car, I love the lines of the Coupé.

Burton · 02-09-2011, 05:41 PM

Coupe all the way. It just looks and feels a little special and the kids love sitting in the back if you can live with 2doors. There is plenty of space in the back and seats fold down as standard to give even more boot room when needed.

m1bjr · 02-09-2011, 06:21 PM

I have both and a youngster in a baby seat.

We never take the saloon.

Wife daily drives it, including town and supermarket trips.
NEVER an issue with door access. The doors dont need to open so far as they are longer

The coupe is better - you can stand in the back and shut the door when its pissing down too.
Only an issue for fat people and those with dodgy backs - they need to buy an Espace and not hang around on here...

Steve

Kerr · 02-09-2011, 06:27 PM

Coupe all the way.

As for the headlining, my 335i is a SE and my headlining is black so it must surely be an option on the car?

I'm a bit lost with the specification of the cars from the factory, but am I correct in saying all E92 335i cars have M sport suspension(unless deleted) M sport seats etc?

If my car has the dark headlining on top of that what else has a M sport got that my SE will not have?

I've got 19" 230 wheels and although slighly biased, I think they suit the car better than any other factory wheel I have seen on the car.

AlanQS · 02-09-2011, 06:48 PM

OP, the standard seats tilt as well. They just don't have the extending bit at the front - the bit that collects all the dust and dirt when you extend it!

Kerr, you are right, all 335 models have m-sport suspension and sports seats as standard (unless the original owner deleted the m-sport suspension on an SE)

At 335 level in the E92, the difference is the headlining colour, gloss black external trim instead of chrome, different wheels, different front and rear bumpers, a slight side skirt, the black/grey plastic diffuser at the rear, shorter gear knob, slightly chunkier handbrake lever and slightly thicker wheel and //M badges on the wheels, steering wheel, gear knob, and door strips. That's it. And they want £2k for that!

FieldingMellish · 02-10-2011, 01:29 AM

Hmmmm. Just shows how much I didn't know: so only the 335 models have Sport suspension as standard? Really? I thought all coupes had sport suspension?

FieldingMellish · 02-10-2011, 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m1bjr

I have both and a youngster in a baby seat.

We never take the saloon.

Wife daily drives it, including town and supermarket trips.
NEVER an issue with door access. The doors dont need to open so far as they are longer

The coupe is better - you can stand in the back and shut the door when its pissing down too.
Only an issue for fat people and those with dodgy backs - they need to buy an Espace and not hang around on here...

Steve

WHo you calling fat?!

FieldingMellish · 02-10-2011, 01:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kerr

Coupe all the way.

As for the headlining, my 335i is a SE and my headlining is black so it must surely be an option on the car?

Oh yeah, it's an option, but I don't think many people spec it, most don't even know about it.

On my very first E90 test drive, the salesman out the black headliner as a nice feature of the M SPort and I was thinking, so what? But once you notice it you prefer it to the standard cream colour. It really helps finish off the feel of the interior.

kaishang · 02-10-2011, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FieldingMellish

Didn't mean to be insulting about the 'awful' seats! I like the way the sport seats stop me sliding around, and I have got very used to being able to tilt my seat base.

Oh yeah, the coupe looks miles better than the saloon. Plus you get loads of kit with it.

Yes, wide doors can be inconvenient but I think I'm leaning towards a coupe, it seems more luxurious, and it does look slick.

SE saloon with sport or non-sport seats has a tilting base with the full electric seat option. Actually maybe as AlanQS says they tilt regardless of if you have the electric seat option.

Coupe has much longer doors which means more difficult to get in/out if you are in a parking bay. Plus more difficult back seat access. Your kid would probably like saloon better as they get older, so they don't feel trapped in the back seat.

As an FYI I had a coupe M Sport loaner for 3 days and found it quite irritating. I was much happier getting back into a SE saloon.

bounty78 · 02-10-2011, 03:17 AM

Definitely coupe for me..coupe FTW! This is my second BMW 2 door coupe, had the E93 before this. Personally i feel the M Sport looks better

The coupe turn a lot more heads than the saloon. I wouldn't have gone for BMW if i had wanted a saloon..but having said that the new 2010 LCI saloon with xenon lights looks

Then again, if i have a young family i might do the sensible thing.

02-09-2011, 02:23 PM	#1
FieldingMellish Captain 171 Rep 981 Posts Drives: F30 330D M Sport auto Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Manchester iTrader: (0)	Saloon or Coupe? Looking to trade my 320d M Sport saloon in for a 330i. First impulse was to go for another M Sport. But if I went for an SE coupee, I'd get most of what I like about the M Sport, and I'd get fancy features like electric seats. Which is good because I promised myself my next car would have memory seats. But only recently did I discover that not all SE coupes have Sport seats. Can't imagine having a coupe with those awful standard seats! Any thoughts on whether to go for a saloon or coupe? Main advantage of a coupe I guess is that it looks better. I don't think my budget is going to stretch to a post-LCI saloon, and the 'old' E90 saloon - like the one I've got - is starting to look a bit old now. ALways hated that ugly 'moustache' grill. But is it worth the extra cash for a coupe? And won't I have trouble putting my 4 year old into a car seat in the back of a coupe? Plus I don't like the SE wheels, the M Sport wheels are all much nicer. Aghhhh! Dilemma!
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02-09-2011, 02:33 PM	#2
toxicnerve Colonel 97 Rep 2,834 Posts Drives: E92 335d M-Sport Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: UK iTrader: (2)	So... E92 M-Sport? It's the way forward. To me the car feels much more special than an E90...IMO it's just a much more elegant looking car with the low roof line and "slimmer" back end. I think the coupes come with a higher level of spec as standard too (eg AFAIK all E92 have xenons etc). Not sure about getting the kids in the back but I convinced the missus the E92 would be fine, it has ISOFIX so it's gotta be right?!
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02-09-2011, 02:34 PM	#3
no_ball No Fear 13 Rep 278 Posts Drives: BMW E90 330d M Sport Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Solihull iTrader: (0)	with a 10 year old and regular visits to the shopping centres and other suchlike limited parking bay areas, the saloon is the practical solution.
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02-09-2011, 04:05 PM	#5
AlanQS Colonel 244 Rep 2,811 Posts Drives: Jaguar XE P250 HSE Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Glasgow iTrader: (0) Garage List 2016 430i m-sport G ... [0.00]	Only the 335 SE has sports seats as standard, it's an option in all the other engine sizes. Only the 330 and 335 have all electric seats as standard, the 325 has had partial electric since March 2009. Although the new 19" rims on the m-sport are very nice, the SE had 18" type 189 and 19" type 230 wheels as options and are two of the nicest looking BMW wheels you can get - and they only come with the SE version. I used to get my kids into the back of a Capri - the E92 is an absolute doddle in comparison. The bigger doors make it more awkward in a tight car park however. If the headlining colour is a serious obstacle, well, your choice. Rear seats in the E92 are isofix as standard. New models now allow you to deactivate the passenger front airbag but certainly up to 2009, that was an option that no one took. I have those awful front seats and I find nothing wrong with them. If I had my chance again I would take the sports seats whilst realising that damage to the bolster side of the standard seat would be worse in the sports seat.
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02-09-2011, 04:11 PM	#6
zltm089 Banned 244 Rep 7,690 Posts Drives: 335i SE Coupe Space Grey Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: LONDON iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 BMW 335i [10.00]	Coupe all day!!!!......everyday!....
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02-09-2011, 04:12 PM	#7
pjs Colonel 275 Rep 2,774 Posts Drives: i8 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: NORTH iTrader: (1)	What are you prepared to spend OP?
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02-09-2011, 04:19 PM	#8
briers Ben 62 Rep 1,992 Posts Drives: Tesla p85d Join Date: May 2010 Location: Midlands,UK iTrader: (0)	Saloon as more practical if you have kids. Doors are big on the coupe which makes it more hassle parking with 2 kids. I think that is the only downside of the coupe. A positive for me is being able to get into the car fully whilst strapping my 2 year old in. Plus i think the coupe looks a bit nicer. As for SE v M-Sport. M-Sport looks better. I went with SE myself. As the 335 comes with various m-sport tweaks but i miss the extra body trims. SE made sense for me because i could buy a car with a lot more equipment for the budget but can easily add the front aero kit later. Plus i love the 230 wheels on the coupe.
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02-09-2011, 04:50 PM	#10
FieldingMellish Captain 171 Rep 981 Posts Drives: F30 330D M Sport auto Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Manchester iTrader: (0)	No, the headliner is not a deal breaker but I am fond of it. Didn't mean to be insulting about the 'awful' seats! I like the way the sport seats stop me sliding around, and I have got very used to being able to tilt my seat base. Oh yeah, the coupe looks miles better than the saloon. Plus you get loads of kit with it. Yes, wide doors can be inconvenient but I think I'm leaning towards a coupe, it seems more luxurious, and it does look slick.
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02-09-2011, 04:56 PM	#11
jimmylad Lieutenant 44 Rep 565 Posts Drives: e92 335d sapphire black Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: DERBY iTrader: (1)	has to be a coupe............ the saloons look so bland (99% of them) & blend into the traffic but I cant help but look if a coupe passes the other way when I bought my e92 I bought it cos I liked the look of it & you often catch others giving the car a second look & I still find my self staring at mine ( especially when its had the porter cable treatment)
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02-09-2011, 05:06 PM	#12
jimmylad Lieutenant 44 Rep 565 Posts Drives: e92 335d sapphire black Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: DERBY iTrader: (1)	also........... not too big a deal for a family of 4 ( 17 year old & 13 year old) everyone who has been in the back loves it
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02-09-2011, 05:29 PM	#13
DavS1 Major 53 Rep 1,272 Posts Drives: Emfree Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Glasgow iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW M3 [0.00]	100% Coupé, it will be a slight compromise with the door thing in carparks but that's something I could easily live with for the sake of a sleeker looking car, I love the lines of the Coupé. __________________ Monte Carlo Blue M3 Comp
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02-09-2011, 05:41 PM	#14
Burton New Member 0 Rep 20 Posts Drives: E92 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: uk iTrader: (0)	Coupe all the way. It just looks and feels a little special and the kids love sitting in the back if you can live with 2doors. There is plenty of space in the back and seats fold down as standard to give even more boot room when needed.
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02-09-2011, 06:21 PM	#15
m1bjr LSD - No, you're not seeing things 72 Rep 3,302 Posts Drives: Baby F36 Gran Coupe Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Plymouth UK iTrader: (4)	I have both and a youngster in a baby seat. We never take the saloon. Wife daily drives it, including town and supermarket trips. NEVER an issue with door access. The doors dont need to open so far as they are longer The coupe is better - you can stand in the back and shut the door when its pissing down too. Only an issue for fat people and those with dodgy backs - they need to buy an Espace and not hang around on here... Steve __________________
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02-09-2011, 06:27 PM	#16
Kerr Brigadier General 112 Rep 4,021 Posts Drives: BMW M235I Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Aberdeen iTrader: (0)	Coupe all the way. As for the headlining, my 335i is a SE and my headlining is black so it must surely be an option on the car? I'm a bit lost with the specification of the cars from the factory, but am I correct in saying all E92 335i cars have M sport suspension(unless deleted) M sport seats etc? If my car has the dark headlining on top of that what else has a M sport got that my SE will not have? I've got 19" 230 wheels and although slighly biased, I think they suit the car better than any other factory wheel I have seen on the car.
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02-09-2011, 06:48 PM	#17
AlanQS Colonel 244 Rep 2,811 Posts Drives: Jaguar XE P250 HSE Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Glasgow iTrader: (0) Garage List 2016 430i m-sport G ... [0.00]	OP, the standard seats tilt as well. They just don't have the extending bit at the front - the bit that collects all the dust and dirt when you extend it! Kerr, you are right, all 335 models have m-sport suspension and sports seats as standard (unless the original owner deleted the m-sport suspension on an SE) At 335 level in the E92, the difference is the headlining colour, gloss black external trim instead of chrome, different wheels, different front and rear bumpers, a slight side skirt, the black/grey plastic diffuser at the rear, shorter gear knob, slightly chunkier handbrake lever and slightly thicker wheel and //M badges on the wheels, steering wheel, gear knob, and door strips. That's it. And they want £2k for that!
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02-10-2011, 01:29 AM	#18
FieldingMellish Captain 171 Rep 981 Posts Drives: F30 330D M Sport auto Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Manchester iTrader: (0)	Hmmmm. Just shows how much I didn't know: so only the 335 models have Sport suspension as standard? Really? I thought all coupes had sport suspension?
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02-10-2011, 03:17 AM	#22
bounty78 Mike 8 Rep 328 Posts Drives: F10 528i M Sport LCI Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Kuala Lumpur iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 E93 325i SE conv [0.00] 2003 Nissan 350Z GT [0.00] 2007 320i E92 M sport [0.00]	Definitely coupe for me..coupe FTW! This is my second BMW 2 door coupe, had the E93 before this. Personally i feel the M Sport looks better The coupe turn a lot more heads than the saloon. I wouldn't have gone for BMW if i had wanted a saloon..but having said that the new 2010 LCI saloon with xenon lights looks Then again, if i have a young family i might do the sensible thing.
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