When I was car shopping, I said

"E90M3" (e90m3)
07/03/2017 at 14:45 • Filed to: None

I didn’t want a car with a black interior or without lumbar support. Naturally, I bought a car with both a black interior and without lumbar support.

The 128i.

My experience with my 128i taught me a few things. It taught me that I have to have a stick in my second BMW, otherwise I’d drive the M3 all the time because it was a stick. About 8 hours into my 12 hour drive from San Antonio to Tuscaloosa, I learned that I really should have gotten a car lumbar support. Lumbar support was not standard on either the 1 series or the E9X. I’m not sure about the M3, I know mine has it and it’s not on the window sticker anywhere as an option, but I know electric seats were an optional extra on the M3. In fact, my E92 doesn’t even have electric seats, like with the M3 they were an optional extra. They were also optional on the 1, but it was one of the few options that had been selected. The 128i also taught me that the sport pack was a requirement, if for nothing other than the seats. If you got the sport pack you got the sport seats, electric and lumbar support were still additional options. My dislike of black interiors comes from the fact that it’s hotter than a non-black interior.

The E92

I had prioritized the transmission above everything else. It had to had to have a stick, and I wasn’t really looking at cars without a sport pack. I test drove an auto E90 328i without a sport pack and it confirmed that I was going to end up buying either a 128i or an E9X with a sport pack and a stick.

I test drove this 128i. It was loaded, basically had every option selected apart from the M-sport pack and a manual transmission. Even in a great color combo, but the lack of a stick made me pass. So despite the E92 lacking lumbar support and a black interior, I bought it anyways. All of the cars I have boughten have been BMWs with black interiors. Even that !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! I tried to buy had a black interior. Apparently despite not liking black interiors, I’m good at buying cars with them. I also say I like sedans more and naturally the last 2 cars I’ve boughten have been coupes. I also like the LCI E92 more than the pre-LCI E92, which is why I’ve got a pre-LCI E92. I also learned during this process that the E92 didn’t get LCI treatment at the same time as the E90. I had assumed they both got the LCI treatment in 2009, but the coupe had to wait until 2011. They did update iDrive for all 2009s and up, regardless of LCI date.

Oh this car is only like a 25% match? Cool, I’ll take it.

DISCUSSION (23)

jasmits > E90M3
07/03/2017 at 15:39

I’m not a fan of black interiors either, but finding a BMW without a black interior is tough.

At least whatever seats they were giving with the E9X are probably worlds better than the base E36 seats I’ve got covered in weird black vinyl-leathery stuff

jonny11quest > E90M3
07/03/2017 at 15:49

Man those sport seats in your E92 look great. Does yours have power lumbar and/or bolsters? I have heated leather manual standard seats. (So many seat combinations on E9Xs. Heat vs not, leather vs not, manual vs power, standard vs sport. All optioned independently I believe.) I may have to upgrade seats if I ever find a set of E90/91 manual sport or M3 seats.

E90M3 > jasmits
07/03/2017 at 15:57

Probably worlds better. They’re actually sensatec.

E90M3 > jonny11quest
07/03/2017 at 15:59

It’s got powered bolsters, but not lumbar support. They’re also heated, but are manual. I believe because there were so many options that could be individually selected, there are so many combos.

I looked for some manual M3 seats, but I couldn’t find any. Probably wouldn’t want to spend the money on them anyways.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > E90M3
07/03/2017 at 16:01

Sensatec feels like weird vinyl-leathery stuff.

E90M3 > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
07/03/2017 at 16:11

Mine actually doesn’t feel super rubbery. Some of the loaners I’ve driven have had senstec that felt a lot more rubbery. I actually like it in the 3.

jonny11quest > E90M3
07/03/2017 at 16:18

Agreed. So many combos. Finding the seats I want for a price I’m willing to pay is probably not gonna happen. I still need to post up my buying experience and early maintenance.. maybe tomorrow. Recently installed a ZHP shift knob and BMS clutch stop. I’m amazed at what a difference they made along with the CDV delete and Redline MTL fluid.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > E90M3
07/03/2017 at 16:18

I once said I would never buy another passenger vehicle without AC. So I bought another passenger vehicle without AC. In May. It was a long summer.

Saracen > E90M3
07/03/2017 at 16:50

I love black interiors. Tinted windows helps.

The car I’m probably buying tomorrow (new DD to keep me from driving the 997 in rush hour) has a black interior, but white paint and tinted windows. It was sitting in the sun all day at the dealer, and the interior wasn’t terribly hot.

E90M3 > Saracen
07/03/2017 at 17:05

I really need to tint the windows on the 3.

jasmits > E90M3
07/03/2017 at 18:07

I’ve been in a current 4 series with sensatec, it really isn’t bad. They’ve made a lot of progress on their imitation leather

PG; the scalpel wielder > E90M3
07/03/2017 at 18:45

I have the powered lumbar and bolsters but no heated seats (not a fan anyway). And a very black interior. Lucky the original owner ticked half the catalogue with the nav, short shifter and the m performance wheel.

Kinja'd!!!

E90M3 > PG; the scalpel wielder
07/03/2017 at 19:26

2008 135i?

PG; the scalpel wielder > E90M3
07/03/2017 at 19:37

yeah

E90M3 > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/03/2017 at 19:40

That has to be rough. The AC was like the best thing on my explorer.

E90M3 > jonny11quest
07/03/2017 at 23:03

I never really had too much want to mod the M3, because it’s almost perfect from the factory. Now after owing a non-M E9X, I want to mod it because I know it could be a whole lot better. I will say, I really do like the M-Sport shift knob in my E92.

Vicente Esteve > E90M3
07/04/2017 at 22:13

How did you feel the powertrain? Was the 28i inline 6 potent enough?

E90M3 > Vicente Esteve
07/05/2017 at 07:05

Considering I’ve bought 2 cars with the power train, I’d say it’s potent enough. I would like a little more power at times, but it gets the job done.

Vicente Esteve > E90M3
07/05/2017 at 09:11

Sweet. Was the auto the ZF 6 speed? Was it decent at the very least?

E90M3 > Vicente Esteve
07/05/2017 at 12:26

Pretty sure it was the ZF, but I can’t be sure. The VIN of my 128i is WBAUP7C59CVP23007, if you want to delve into it more. It was a pretty good transmission, but I like the manual more.

Vicente Esteve > E90M3
07/05/2017 at 17:23

Of course, manual is the best option here.

Issue is availability, and I get intrigued by the paddles.

E90M3 > Vicente Esteve
07/05/2017 at 18:33

DCT is much better than the auto. Honestly I think I could live with a DCT.

Vicente Esteve > E90M3
07/05/2017 at 23:35

DCT seems like a good choice, but it is N55 only not the NA motors sadly.