my first experience with the e90

car looks nice in person especially next to my e46..
i hated the front but it doesn't look bad at all in person..
i liked the rear but it looks horrible in person..
the interior feels more expensive than my e46.. but looks much cheaper..
the clutch requires no force at all so its a granny clutch.. my e46 takes some real muscle
the shifts on the e90 are even notchier than my e46.. although they are much shorter
i like the overall bulldog stance of the car..
the stereo..after all the raves.. sounds no different from my e46.. perhaps for the exception of cleaner bass.. so i suppose it is different.. but not to the level i expected..
steering wheel was very nice for the stock sport wheel..
controls were great...
without idrive, the dash looks like junk... boring... as if something were missing..
overall, very nice car...

Which one did you look at? The 325i or 330i? If it was the 325i, it doesn't have logic7 standard.

"Bulldog stance"

Excellent way to describe it!

This is the first post I've read opining that the E46 stereo is as good as the E90's - Logic 7 or standard!

I tested the system in both the 325 and 330 and found nothing too significant to warrant a charge. With classical music, all the systems sound equally well.

The only problem I really have with my own HK system is the bass sounds... cheap... comparable to a computer subwoofer that sounds far from smooth and blended with the rest of the music. The newer cars seem to have better bass but when comparing just the "highs" there doesn't seem to be much changed...

Originally Posted by allaboutme

car looks nice in person especially next to my e46..
i hated the front but it doesn't look bad at all in person..
i liked the rear but it looks horrible in person..
the interior feels more expensive than my e46.. but looks much cheaper..
the clutch requires no force at all so its a granny clutch.. my e46 takes some real muscle
the shifts on the e90 are even notchier than my e46.. although they are much shorter
i like the overall bulldog stance of the car..
the stereo..after all the raves.. sounds no different from my e46.. perhaps for the exception of cleaner bass.. so i suppose it is different.. but not to the level i expected..
steering wheel was very nice for the stock sport wheel..
controls were great...
without idrive, the dash looks like junk... boring... as if something were missing..
overall, very nice car...

I observed the same! I posted something about a week ago.

Originally Posted by allaboutme

car looks nice in person especially next to my e46..
i hated the front but it doesn't look bad at all in person..
i liked the rear but it looks horrible in person..
the interior feels more expensive than my e46.. but looks much cheaper..
the clutch requires no force at all so its a granny clutch.. my e46 takes some real muscle
the shifts on the e90 are even notchier than my e46.. although they are much shorter
i like the overall bulldog stance of the car..
the stereo..after all the raves.. sounds no different from my e46.. perhaps for the exception of cleaner bass.. so i suppose it is different.. but not to the level i expected..
steering wheel was very nice for the stock sport wheel..
controls were great...
without idrive, the dash looks like junk... boring... as if something were missing..
overall, very nice car...

I'm confused. What in your quote suggests an overall very nice car? The horrible-looking rear end, the cheaper-looking interior, the notchy shifts, the unimproved stereo sound, or the junk...boring dash?

nothing is perfect and neither are the looks but the profile and front are good enough to me to warrant a good review...
the interior isn't really bad at all contrary to many other opinions..but this is also my own opinion... i wouldn't mind being in it...
stereo is also fine along with the steering wheel and other controls..
i also kind of like the notchy shifts are strange as that sounds.. something very satisfying and mechanical about it rather than having the shifter glide smooth... all these are positives

only thing i dont really like is the clutch control... too light. .too easy... so with this explanation.. you can have a better understanding of why the car still elicits "very nice" in my opinion...

and i think i went back adn said the stereo is improved on the low end.. i always considered the high end quite good in the e46...and the e90 hasn't really improved there that i could tell.. the low end certainly did

Just a note (no pun) regarding the audio system in the 330. The Logic 7 in my 5er (330 has same system) can be turned off.....not as in "shut off" but as in the Logic 7 sound processing system can be shut down....causing the audio system to sound pretty flat. Why anyone with Logic 7 would ever need to shut it "off" I haven't figured out.....but when you "test drive" the audio systems in these cars make sure that the Logic 7 is actually IN the Logic 7 mode. Concert Hall mode is best I think....you can't even begin to compare it to the stock system. Also, to be fair, you should test the system with your favorite music CDs....not just the FM radio. The dealer should have a copy of the BMW audiophile CD which has some great instrumental tracks that show off the sound systems performance.

I would think a "flat" response curve would reflect the original work as closely as intended.. I admit I didn't know that Logic 7 could shut off but if it really is just a DSP effect then perhaps I'll give it another test some other time.. I'll also be sure to bring a suitable cd.