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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum
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The Ultimate E90 Test Drive
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05-01-2005, 07:22 PM | #23 | |
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Interior/exterior sounds
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Outside the engine/exhaust sound is really sweet. They have developed a slightly deeper and louder growl under acceleration. On the outside listening to one pull away under heavy acceleration it sounds more like something the Italians would have built. |
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05-01-2005, 07:58 PM | #24 | |
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Oh well we'll see |
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05-02-2005, 06:58 AM | #25 |
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Now that's what I call a test drive! Without even test driving the car, I've got a good sense of what to expect. I've learned much about the car from everyone's review, especially this one. Thank you all.
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moz 2006 M Coupe, Imola Red/Black, bone stock <for now> 2000 323i, titanium silver, black interior, sport+premium package. 18x8.5 Hamann HM2 |
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05-02-2005, 09:59 AM | #27 |
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Sweet event! How many people get to "test drive" the e90 with helmets on? You lucky dog.
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05-02-2005, 10:22 AM | #28 | |
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Test Drive
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Are you currently attending SoCal? |
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05-02-2005, 02:45 PM | #29 |
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wow, what a sick way to start the week. by far the best review i've seen yet, and i love those pix !!! titan silver all the way !
thanks jack!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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05-03-2005, 10:31 PM | #31 |
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The Ultimate Road Test Part III
OK Brother & Sister Bimmerphiles here it is. the third and final (whew!) installment to the “Ultimate E90 Road Test.
I pretty well covered the event as well as my impressions of the car in the first two installments so let me get into some of the smaller issues I had a chance to discuss with a few of the reps there. Run-Flats and Rims The consensus from all the performance guys and BMW reps was that the run-flats are GREAT tires. At least on the 330 series with Sport Pkg. It seems, according to them that ALL the cars coming in so far, are equipped with Bridgestone Potenzsas. They feel that these we are now well into the second generation run-flats and the technology has improved to the point to where there should really be no complaints about ride quality and that the stiffer sidewalls actually improve the handling performance of the car. There are two types of run-flat rims on the market; one does not allow you to replace run-flat tires with non run-flats due to the design of the inside lip of the rim. The other type does allow non run-flats to be replaced with regular tires. If the info I got is correct the E90 comes equipped with the later. However, having said that, there was absolutely NO ONE that thought swapping them out was a good idea. The reason…as we have already heard, the E90 suspension has been specifically tuned for run-flat tires. I got the impression that they were going to let the “after market” deal with that issue. For a number of rather obvious liability reasons I don’t believe BMW will EVER support swapping out he run-flats. Remember there’s no spare and bad things can happen to people who have flat tires in bad places and have no spare. Bluetooth I had a chance to spend a bit of time with Ken Brock, Product Manager of the 3 Series, in one of the E90s in the display tent. He was kind enough to give me a fairly detailed briefing on Bluetooth and “Phone Pairing” in the E90. Everyone is concerned about the compatibility of different phones with the E90. A lot of discussion is floating around to make one believe that the E90 has its own proprietary issues when it comes to Bluetooth compatibility. Well, it doesn’t! The E90 is no more or less picky than any other car out there when it comes to compatibility issues. There are, as it was explained to me, basically two different standards out there that define Bluetooth phones. One of those is referred to as “Mobile” which means it has the ability to transfer data (Phone Lists and numbers) to automobiles and other devices that are also Bluetooth capable. The other standard simply exchanges voice data to another device such as the wireless earpiece units that are sold for Bluetooth phones. Soooo.., that means that virtually ANY “Mobile” standard Bluetooth phone out there SHOULD work. The real issue is will all of the features work or not. These are the same issues with any Bluetooth equipped vehicle. Nothing unique to the BMW. If you know of a phone that you like that works well on another car it should work equally well on the E90 (Or so I’ve been told). Once “paired” the system works great. Very much the same as the voice command phone system on my 745i. Aux Audio Input The Aux input, located inside the center console is absolutely outstanding! I brought along my Napster (Samsung) MP3 player just in case I got a chance to try out the interface. So while I had Ken with me I thought I’d grill him on it’s use as well. He showed me couple features I thought were really great. For example, if you happen to plug your iPod or MP3 player in when its volume is quite low you might turn the cars volume control up significantly to compensate. Well if you later unplug your player you might just blow the roof off your brand new E90 because you failed to lower the volume when returning to radio mode. Not a good thing to do. So the fine engineers at BMW set the system up the readjust the volume for you automatically should you forget. Perhaps an even nicer feature is the ability to play CDs with MP3 content. The readout on the radio face will scroll through all the track info, if you saved it with the musical track, and display it just like on your computer. The system works so nice you will probably just burn all your MP3s onto CDs and leave the iPod at home. Cruise Control On one of the other threads in this forum there was a picture I think Jwocky posted of a lighted E90 instrument cluster. On the edge of the speedo at about the 10 o’clock position was a cool little bug or tick mark. A number of poeple noticed it and commented on what it might be. Well, that bug is the speed reference for the cruise control. On my 745i it’s a graphic band that extends from 0 to whatever I have selected for the speed. Believe me, this is way cooler! Wait till you see how cool it rotates around the bezel as you engage and disconnect the cruise control. Between the Angel Eyes and the Cruise bug this car far “out tricks” anything on the road! :rocks: :rocks: Well that’s it boys and girls. I’m sure I have forgotten a few things since Sat. If anything else comes to mind I’ll be sure to post it. Here’s a few more pics from the event. “Hail to Caesar, Hail to the E90” Last edited by CaptJack; 05-04-2005 at 06:46 AM.. |
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05-04-2005, 01:24 AM | #33 |
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CaptJack,
In a previous post you said that you were expecting to receive your E90 on the 2nd. Did it not come after all? Just wondering because I'm waiting for my E90 to be delivered from the port. |
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05-04-2005, 04:08 AM | #34 |
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Wow
The last two pictures of Arctis are beautiful. Now why can't it look stay that colour permanently? Thanks again for the pictures. Beautiful as ever. |
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05-04-2005, 06:04 AM | #36 | |
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Quote:
Last edited by CaptJack; 05-04-2005 at 06:48 AM.. |
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05-04-2005, 12:09 PM | #37 |
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I agree with a3ndy. When Arctic is in "gray-mode" it looks the best, when in "blue-mode" it looks like it could be better.
Thanks for the great write-up CaptJack. Its good to know most of us will have the best performing car out on the road without spending tons of money. Nice pics, too. |
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05-04-2005, 03:30 PM | #39 | |
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I agree. I've been leaning toward the Arctis, and when I saw those two picture yesterday, I think it helped me make up my mind.
Absolutely Beautiful. Quote:
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05-04-2005, 04:59 PM | #40 | |
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The gauge looks like it can move it's redline point too similar to the cruise control. |
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05-04-2005, 06:51 PM | #41 | |
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Speedo bug
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05-05-2005, 01:10 AM | #42 |
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Nice review and great pics, the wait is killing me
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05-05-2005, 11:46 AM | #43 |
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Cruise Control
I told you I'd forget something:
The cruise control system is literally taken from the 7 series. A stalk on the left side of the steering column that is far more sophisticated that that on the e46. This car is LOADED with high end features taken from the 5 & 7 series vehicles. BMW has clearly elevated the 3 to a new, higher level of sophistication. I assume, to define it further from the upcoming 1 series. Marketing - Marketing!! |
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07-21-2005, 06:40 AM | #44 |
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you people must have had the time of your life
wish i was there. |
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