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      02-03-2014, 07:31 PM   #1
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[Interior quality] M3 vs M5

Those of you who were fortunate enough to sit in both of these cars, how do you compare the two? One area I never liked with the current M3 was the interior quality. It never felt premium and there was always a big gap between the E60 M5 and E9X M3. Every tiny thing you touched or used in the M3 felt cheap compared to the M5.
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      02-03-2014, 07:38 PM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RealStig View Post
Those of you who were fortunate enough to sit in both of these cars, how do you compare the two? One area I never liked with the current M3 was the interior quality. It never felt premium and there was always a big gap between the E60 M5 and E9X M3. Every tiny thing you touched or used in the M3 felt cheap compared to the M5.
I think Full leather will really help it, I know the interior feels so much more premium with a full leather dash.
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      02-03-2014, 07:41 PM   #3
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I must say I disagree. The E90 M3's quality of materials is close enough to the E60's. It might not be the most exciting and modern interior but neither is the E60's. The only really cheap feeling thing in the E90 M3 is the I-drive controller. It's downright embarrassing in it's $5 fisher price plasticky feel. The original alu controller was miles better in quality feel.
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      02-03-2014, 07:53 PM   #4
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Interior is the F10 m5 is pretty much the same as the new M3/4. The M3/4 look a bite more refined due to the size of the car being smaller inside so the surfaces are not large like the M5 and thus makes it looks unique. My brother owns the F10 M5 with black interior.
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      02-03-2014, 08:03 PM   #5
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I sat in the new M3 and M4 in detroit, both had full leather and I also own an F10 M5.

1. The leather quality of the dash and door panels is similar to the M5, although in the M3, the bottom half of the door is not leather. There is less overall coverage in the full leather package in the M3/M4 versus the M5.

2. The M5 leather seats are of a higher quality, although the new M3/M4 seats are very sporty and have a nice feel.

3. The M5 has alacantra suede, which creates a very luxurious feel. The M3/M4 have the black headliner (forget the name).

4. The biggest difference is in the dials, buttons, and plastics in the M3/M4. Overall they feel cheaper than the M5. The M5 does not have any hard plastic and the dials and buttons are of a better quality.

Overall, the interior is not a deal breaker for me. I can be just as happy in the M3/M4 as I am in my M5 given the price difference. Hope that helps!
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      02-03-2014, 08:20 PM   #6
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This is great to hear, thanks guys.
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      02-03-2014, 08:29 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ufgtrs2007 View Post
I sat in the new M3 and M4 in detroit, both had full leather and I also own an F10 M5.

1. The leather quality of the dash and door panels is similar to the M5, although in the M3, the bottom half of the door is not leather. There is less overall coverage in the full leather package in the M3/M4 versus the M5.

2. The M5 leather seats are of a higher quality, although the new M3/M4 seats are very sporty and have a nice feel.

3. The M5 has alacantra suede, which creates a very luxurious feel. The M3/M4 have the black headliner (forget the name).

4. The biggest difference is in the dials, buttons, and plastics in the M3/M4. Overall they feel cheaper than the M5. The M5 does not have any hard plastic and the dials and buttons are of a better quality.

Overall, the interior is not a deal breaker for me. I can be just as happy in the M3/M4 as I am in my M5 given the price difference. Hope that helps!
Agree with you mostly, although I disagree with #2 and slightly reserve about #1.

I don't agree that the M5 seats are higher quality. They are the same leather. I do agree that they have more adjustability, in that they have the extendable thigh bolster and the articulated upper backrest. I find the former to be very useful to me, and the latter a source of much frustration among owners that I have read. I will say that the M5 has better shoulder bolsters as well as thicker padding.

With #2, if you compare base M5 vs. base M3 interior, essentially the leather is on the same surfaces. Door tops, dash, and glovebox are all the same non-leather material. I think that in the M5, that material might be a bit softer. Agree with you that with the full interior, the M5 gets more leather (on the door bottoms) than the M3.
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      02-03-2014, 09:34 PM   #8
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You should be comparing it to the 6GC. That's the nicest BMW interior, IMO.

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      02-03-2014, 09:37 PM   #9
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What I really dislike is that even with "Full leather", it still seems from the pictures I've looked at that you will have plastic along the center console on the driver's side. I think that's a big

I also love the Alcantara A-pillars and headliner, and wonder how hard that would be to get retrofitted on our own.
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      02-03-2014, 09:49 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by solstice
I must say I disagree. The E90 M3's quality of materials is close enough to the E60's. It might not be the most exciting and modern interior but neither is the E60's. The only really cheap feeling thing in the E90 M3 is the I-drive controller. It's downright embarrassing in it's $5 fisher price plasticky feel. The original alu controller was miles better in quality feel.
Completely agree. Well, the I-drive controller is the same in F10 also, which I think is fine.
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      02-03-2014, 09:57 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by michaelw9
What I really dislike is that even with "Full leather", it still seems from the pictures I've looked at that you will have plastic along the center console on the driver's side. I think that's a big

I also love the Alcantara A-pillars and headliner, and wonder how hard that would be to get retrofitted on our own.
Same with M5.
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      02-03-2014, 10:15 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Needsdecaf View Post
Same with M5.
The M5 still has leather along the driver side center console:


The M3/M4 has the cheap hard (non-interior color) plastic along the console:


I bought the extended leather on my E92 M3 mostly to have leather there and match the seat color. So it's sad that you can still pay a premium for Full leather, and now no longer get leather there. At least it is on the tops of the doors which was not available in the E92, and the dashboard. But to call it "Full" is almost a misnomer.
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      02-03-2014, 10:17 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by michaelw9
Quote:
Originally Posted by Needsdecaf View Post
Same with M5.
The M5 still has leather along the driver side center console:


The M3/M4 has the cheap hard (non-interior color) plastic along the console:


I bought the extended leather on my E92 M3 mostly to have leather there and match the seat color. So it's sad that you can still pay a premium for Full leather, and now no longer get leather there. At least it is on the tops of the doors which was not available in the E92, and the dashboard. But to call it "Full" is almost a misnomer.
I forgot about the carpet.
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      02-03-2014, 10:25 PM   #14
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Wonder how hard it would be to acquire some silverstone leather and just cover the console myself.
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      02-04-2014, 10:00 AM   #15
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the M5's interior is definitely a notch above the M3's, but at least the M3 gets CF trim as standard.
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      02-04-2014, 12:33 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brosef View Post
the M5's interior is definitely a notch above the M3's, but at least the M3 gets CF trim as standard.
Unless this delay in US pricing sheets results in a shuffle in options and packages. I hope not, the current setup is perfect for me.
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      02-04-2014, 06:54 PM   #17
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In the uk config site i actually like how the piano black trim looks with SO. The CF seems a little too much almost.
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      02-04-2014, 06:57 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dmk08 View Post
In the uk config site i actually like how the piano black trim looks with SO. The CF seems a little too much almost.
It's definitely too much for me. I'd much rather have Piano Black or Carbon Leather trim.
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      02-04-2014, 07:29 PM   #19
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I am looking at aluminum trim with SO. The CF is running second.
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      02-04-2014, 07:37 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brosef View Post
the M5's interior is definitely a notch above the M3's, but at least the M3 gets CF trim as standard.
It's a $500 option up here in Canada...
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      02-04-2014, 08:17 PM   #21
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Compared to my E60 M5, the new M3 is not quite as nice, but I'd rate the F8x higher than the outgoing E9X M3 in terms of luxury finish. Ufgtrs 2007 got it right IMHO.
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