GT Interior vs 330i

[_zOmbIE_]

I had a base S197, the interior wasn't great but it wasn't horrible. With my S550, I went for the premium interior and don't regret a penny spent. You spend much more time looking at the interior of your car than the exterior, after all (at least when driving lol).

I'm not sure if BMW has an upgraded interior trim package, but if it does, I would assume a mid-tier rental wouldn't have it. Might make a difference, but a lot of these comments seem to suggest it likely wouldn't

Sponsored

 

[Bob Lob Law]

When I was looking at stangs I did look into ordering a 540I. They have 3 levels of interior trim. The only one that I have seen is the top level(not sure what they call it) and it was WAY nicer than the 550 interior, especially the leather! I have the premium trim in my stang and it's ok at best. Lots of cheap looking plastic, cheap leather, mediocre infotainment system(especially going backwards from sync4).

 

[drunkenup]

I've owned two E90 generation BMWs, and the general consensus is interior 'quality' has worsened since then. BMWs are a decent standard but are not durable inside. Plastics that quickly become sticky and peel are tradition to BMWs and MBZ. I turoed a 22 GTCS last spring and the interiors are comparable to a 3 series.

Don't believe the eurocels. They build some very austere cabins in their subcompact lineups, and you wouldn't believe how basic and cheap you can build a ROW market 3 or 5 series. I had to rent a 23 Edge last fall that ending up being surprisingly pleasant, obviously these cars have come a long way in the last two decades. I spent my adolescence riding around in a 96 Windstar so I'm very familiar with how bad these cars used to be, and that perception was locked in when my family starting buying entry level luxury cars. My 2021 F150 Platinum's cabin is strong disillusionment to that prior sentiment.

Also.. remember you paid for 460HP with a 60k/5 yr powertrain warranty. If these cars still had a early S197 interior that would certainly be a big issue (I personally think the Camaro is way behind in terms of layout and aesthetics), but you still have to justify a 20k premium (mostly for a nicer dashboard?) to get into something European with similar power and size.

 

[CobaltFilly]

My 2015 bone stock interior was subpar in my opinion, to say the least.

Then Ford decided to upgrade the interior on premium models and I installed everything, sync 3, leather seats, digital cluster, premium center console and door panels and I think it is fabulous.

I have the humble V6 S550…the base model to end all base models…

And its interior is superior to my 1995 Honda Accord EX Coupe I used to own, or the 2009 Honda Accord Sedan I still own…
And is far better than my clients’ high end Lexus or my other client’s 330i. Only because I hate leather interiors, give me cloth please. But thats the detailer in me.

When I was an apprentice, I had a detail on a Rolls Royce…now that’s luxury interior.

But a top of the line German car is pretty darn nice for the “upper middle class car” interior. Nice to the point I wouldn’t want to daily it for fear of scratching something.

I detail expensive cars…don’t want to own one.

Did I mention I hate leather.

 

[_zOmbIE_]

Also.. remember you paid for 460HP with a 60k/5 yr powertrain warranty. If these cars still had a early S197 interior that would certainly be a big issue (I personally think the Camaro is way behind in terms of layout and aesthetics), but you still have to justify a 20k premium (mostly for a nicer dashboard?) to get into something European with similar power and size.

Anything was better than a 2008 til 2014 Dodge Challenger interior... it's like they didn't even care. Luckily they gave the interior some attention in 2015, but the cars before that were woeful. This is the interior on '100th anniversary edition' (100 years of Dodge, I guess?) 2014 Challenger:

I didn't regret going with "my first mustang" (base model V6) over that mess

 

[geep81]

I'd say the value in BMW's interior is in the lack of rattles and creaks.

My Mercedes creaked bad.
My Lincolns were OK.
My first Mustang was OK.
My current Mustang was a rattle can since day it got off the transport.
My Acura was solid.
My BMW was rock solid and never made a peep.

And to the guy comparing a rental spec 330 to a premium 401a pony what a joke.
Try an apples to apples and compare it to a top trim BMW interior, or else put up a 301a pony to a 330i and there's no comparison. 301a is garbage next to BMW base interior.

 

[Paddles]

When I was looking at stangs I did look into ordering a 540I. They have 3 levels of interior trim. The only one that I have seen is the top level(not sure what they call it) and it was WAY nicer than the 550 interior, especially the leather! I have the premium trim in my stang and it's ok at best. Lots of cheap looking plastic, cheap leather, mediocre infotainment system(especially going backwards from sync4).

This is what I was expecting haha
Sounds like it won't be found in a rental though, oh well

 

[S550HPP]

The Mustang seats are great one of the reasons I bought a long with the overall great design and the HPP gauges.

I just did Katzkins with console.knee pad upholstered in same color. Will be resurfacing additional plastics soon incl A pillars and header panel when windshield is changed.

Kudos to Katzkins for backing their product 100% and doing everything to remedy deficiencies - this is Made in America excellence end to end.

Might do the lower plastics since that's easy, possibly lower dash since have material.

The interior will be on par with 150K BMW for $4K.

 

[Call_Me_Bruce]

I've never owned a BMW product, but I can say I've been happy with the interior of my Mustang. Its a 401a, and after almost 3 years of ownership no squeaks or rattles. I've probably just doomed myself....

 

[Nightmonkey]

BMW has never had a significantly well build interior in the kind of affordable cars.
The only people who believe that are the BMW fan boys.
The S550 will also age better than some of the things BMW has done in the last 10...15 years.

There's a reason why I'm here and not in a Wirtshaus with beer and pretzels wearing lederhosen.

 

[_zOmbIE_]

Anything was better than a 2008 til 2014 Dodge Challenger interior... it's like they didn't even care. Luckily they gave the interior some attention in 2015, but the cars before that were woeful. This is the interior on '100th anniversary edition' (100 years of Dodge, I guess?) 2014 Challenger:

I didn't regret going with "my first mustang" (base model V6) over that mess

For the record, the interior in my 2006 Viper is pretty god awful as well... Dodge was so broke back then lol

 

[Paddles]

For the record, the interior in my 2006 Viper is pretty god awful as well... Dodge was so broke back then lol

For a Viper I would be willing to sacrifice some amenities haha

 

[Shekkie]

My ex-‘23 MINI JCW (BMW family) had a nice, functional and comfortable interior but none of the surfaces were anything special. I’d rank my ‘20 Bullitt interior as way nicer.

 

[S550HPP]

I really like S550 HPP Premium interior. Hard plastics are great base for quickly and inexpensively recovering with anything you want. Especially all the pillar, header, and side panel trim excl door panel.

Way better than most cars, even new Ferraris and especially the Portifino that looks like 1981 Tercel inside.

Korean and Japanese mass market brands have great interiors.

Sponsored