[bmwguynj]

I am looking to get a 330i loaded - most importantly with the sports package. That is one sweet looking vehicle.

For all your 3 series sedan owners out there, do you feel there is enough interior room for both yourself and passengers in the back? Or are you slowly feeling cramped and would have liked a larger car like the 5 series. The 5 series I hear is not that much bigger on the inside and besides it isn't as sporty as the 3 series.

I was in the rear seat of an Audi A4 and I seemed to have enough room. I wonder if the 3 series interior is smaller or larger than an A4.

Your thoughts would be much appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Kaz]

Its far from 'roomy' in a Lincoln Town Car sense. Ever sit in a Passat? That is roomy. The 5er feels wider but you're right, overall it doesn't have much more actual space.
I think not having the rear window in the usual place on my wagon makes a difference, but I think its plenty roomy especially if the front seats aren't crammed all the way back.
Interestingly, I rode in a 4dr Ford Escort POS recently, and I think it had more legroom front and back than my car. :dunno:

 

[Mystikal]

Yeah, compared to E39, the E46 LITERALLY has more room in every dimension inside save for width. There's something to be said for efficiency. Same deal with the trunk, the cubic footage is identical at 11.

I feel I could use a bit more room behind me, because I'm 6'3" and the seat is set all the way back. I think it is comfortable up to a combined height of about 11'8". An odd way to put it, but I think it works well.

 

[bmwguynj]

Yeah, compared to E39, the E46 LITERALLY has more room in every dimension inside save for width. There's something to be said for efficiency. Same deal with the trunk, the cubic footage is identical at 11.

I feel I could use a bit more room behind me, because I'm 6'3" and the seat is set all the way back. I think it is comfortable up to a combined height of about 11'8". An odd way to put it, but I think it works well.

Thanks for the feedback. You give me hope, since you are 6'3" and comfy in the 3 series. I'm only 5'10" and should then have more then enough room.

I think what is bugging me is that the 5 series is not very spacious to start off with, but since the 3 series is smaller then it's just worst, but it seems not that bad. I still will go with the 3 series since it is more sportier.

 

[Mystikal]

I think what is bugging me is that the 5 series is not very spacious to start off with, but since the 3 series is smaller then it's just worst, but it seems not that bad. I still will go with the 3 series since it is more sportier.

Didn't I just clarify that they are the same in size?

 

[bmwguynj]

Didn't I just clarify that they are the same in size?

Sorry Mystikal, I think I mixed it around and you are saying that the 3 series has the same amount of room or even more. Like you said, you'd think that the 5 series would just be larger on the inside too.

Either way, the 3 series is all good and is the way to go!

 

[Mystikal]

Yeah, compared to E39, the E46 LITERALLY has more room in every dimension inside save for width. There's something to be said for efficiency. Same deal with the trunk, the cubic footage is identical at 11.

Maybe I worded it confusingly, or perhaps you're not familar with the "E" naming system from BMW. I mean that the E46 (the current 3-series) has more interior room than the E39 (the current 5-series) in every which way except for width where the E39 has a slight advantage.

Better? :dunno:

 

[bol]

I've fit three people, an entire 10 peice drum kit and two guitars in my ex-330Ci.

It was a squeeze, but we did it!

 

[bmwguynj]

Maybe I worded it confusingly, or perhaps you're not familar with the "E" naming system from BMW. I mean that the E46 (the current 3-series) has more interior room than the E39 (the current 5-series) in every which way except for width where the E39 has a slight advantage.

Better? :dunno:

It's all good and clarified. I have to say it again, the silver color combo with the black striping is the a great combination on the 3 series. Nice ride.

 

[Mystikal]

It's all good and clarified. I have to say it again, the silver color combo with the black striping is the a great combination on the 3 series. Nice ride.

Thanks!

The only problem is that 80% of the 3-series buyers from 1999-2001 agree with you all too well. Damn near every E46 I see is Titanium Silver.

So you're thinking of trading the GS for a 3 or another plan? It would be an interesting swap indeed.

 

[bmw325]

Many passengers that have sat in the rear of my car have actually commented on how surprised they were by the roominess and comfort in back. I guess part of that is the fact that the car looks so small, so they think its going to be terrible but are instead pleasantly surprised. I'm 5'9 by the way-- and i've had passengers up to 5 10 sitting behind me without a problem. It is true that there's about the same amoun of interior room as a 5 series (except width)-- but the 5 has more head room -- and some have said that they are able to raise the 5's seat higher, thus giving them more leg room while not compromising the rear passenger leg room--guess you'd have to check this out yourself.

 

[CaliChris]

I think the Sedan feels like a smaller sedan, while the Coupe feels like a spacious 2-door... In other words, the coupe feels a lot larger for some reasons... It's probably a combination of things...I still can't decide if I want to order a 2003 330CI or 330I... The sedan has a stiffer body structure and I can tell the difference but i'm not sure if I like the styling of the facelifted sedan or the coupe... THe sedan looks much sportier now with the new facelift and stands out a bit more, while the coupe is starting to look kind of dated...Wonder what the 2005 3-series will look like..

 

[bmwguynj]

Thanks!

The only problem is that 80% of the 3-series buyers from 1999-2001 agree with you all too well. Damn near every E46 I see is Titanium Silver.

So you're thinking of trading the GS for a 3 or another plan? It would be an interesting swap indeed.

I hear you on the color, everyone just loves it and it's also a better color for resale too.

The GS goes to the wife. She loves that car & I love that car, but after driving the BMWs owned by other family members, I'm hooked. One thing I do have to say is that you pay a lot of money for a car, you would expect to have it all, you don't with the GS, since there is no true sports package. You have to spend even more to do this.

 

[FireFly]

I'm 6' 4" and there is plenty of room in front for me in the 330xi.
I have never felt cramped.

I also looked at the A4 before getting the BMW and the back seat is smaller in the A4- at least for leg room.

I think the way the BMW's seats are designed in the back it gives you more leg room without needing the increased distance between the back of the front seat and the front of the back seat- if that makes any sense.

One othere "interesting" note about space in the BMW- went to pick up a pizza the other day and noticed the box fits on the floor of the front seat in the BMW. I had a F150 truck and you could not get it to do that without being at an angle. So the BMW has a lot of "footroom"- maybe marketing should start plugging this feature.

 

[JPinTO]

I sit with my seat all the way back, and it's great for front seat passengers. However, with rear seat passengers... I have to move my seat out of my ideal position forward... otherwise there is no room behind me.

The E46 is a great 1 or 2 passenger vehicle with plenty of front space. I'm sure some people can fit 12 clowns and 30 golf bags in it... it really depends on how much one wants to squeeze and how often.

With any more than 2 passengers, I have no interest in doing the squeeze. The 2.5L is underpowered under the best of circumstances, much more so with a full load.

Not that the E39 is any larger. Perhaps the E60 will be larger on the inside.

 

[bmwguynj]

After reading all these great responses, I think the key to this issue is the following:

1. Great car with enough room either way for at least 2 people.
2. Not a spacious car, but can fit 2 people somewhat comfortably in the back. 3 people in the back would be pushing it.
3. The 4 door sedan would be more practical for the family oriented driver that needs to get things as well as people in and out of the back seat.
4. The 3 series is not a small car overal. It's still midsize.
5. The 3 series even though slightly smaller than the 5 series is still more sportier.
6. The 330 has more than enough power for driving fun, although everyone wants to have more horsepower, HP like the M3.

 

[CaliChris]

After reading all these great responses, I think the key to this issue is the following:

1. Great car with enough room either way for at least 2 people.
2. Not a spacious car, but can fit 2 people somewhat comfortably in the back. 3 people in the back would be pushing it.
3. The 4 door sedan would be more practical for the family oriented driver that needs to get things as well as people in and out of the back seat.
4. The 3 series is not a small car overal. It's still midsize.
5. The 3 series even though slightly smaller than the 5 series is still more sportier.
6. The 330 has more than enough power for driving fun, although everyone wants to have more horsepower, HP like the M3.

Doesn't EPA classify it as a compact?

 

[Cliff]

Doesn't EPA classify it as a compact?

FWIW, the 5 series is also a compact according to the EPA.

 

[JPinTO]

#5: The 3-series exterior is smaller than the 5-series, but interiors are almost identical.