carfreak

I've had my car for 6 months, and I now feel that BMW cut costs by using inferior parts on our car. I used to own an e46 and I feel the parts were better quality. Here's some things that bother me on my e60:

• dashboard material looks/feel cheap (3 series, x5 and other use a different material)
• Steering wheel leather - now improved with 07' sports model
• knobs for AC - 06' improved with brighter finish
• no LED tail lights - maybe in 08'+
• No digital LCD for AC temperatur or fan speed
• cup holders look awkward
• center console needs more wood (like E63)
• sport seats are uncomfortable, especially headrests

I feel that the intial model year (04-05) are cheaply made on purpose soley to improve equipment for later years. Some examples: Extra wood, better steering wheel, etc. However, the new 3 series has a more luxurious interior

What's your opinion?

TexaZ3

Here is my take on this:

* dashboard material looks/feel cheap (3 series, x5 and other use a different material)

I don't really see the difference, it looks and feels nice. You have not seen dash in Z3 yet! Its plastic!

* Steering wheel leather - now improved with 07' sports model

I like thicker and rougher leather on BMW steering wheels - it wears better. All too often you see Lexus and MB cars with worn leather on the steering wheel - I have yet to see this on a BMW.

* knobs for AC - 06' improved with brighter finish

Don't really care about brightness of the knobs.

* no LED tail lights - maybe in 08'+

Led tailights would be cool, but I can leave without them.

* No digital LCD for AC temperatur or fan speed - WHY?

* cup holders look awkward - Don't use them anyway

* center console needs more wood (like E63) - some prefer no wood at all, so its personal. I'm ok with the amount of wood on my dash.

* sport seats are uncomfortable, especially headrests - I find sport seats very comfortable, one of the best seats I've ever had. And I had enough cars, and BMW in particular - also a personal preference I guess.

carfreak

I guess it's fine, but I'm just comparing the other cars in its class.

The dials are pretty cheap looking. Something you would find in a $20k+ car .

I'm also comparing it to the previous 5 series and other.

The only reason I feel in love with the car was the handling and the exterior.

Ricracing

I kind of have the same feelings but the car is a heck of an
improvement compared to the E39 not even to mention the E46.

- The dash material is not upto the E39
- Steering wheel (standard) is great!
- My AC is the limited version - very cheap looking, but works great
- LED tail lights - Tokio by Night - not interested, but they will come
- The E39's auto AC looked and worked just fine
- Cup holders? You Yank's just drink too much! Drive more intensive!
- Center consol would need more storage room, how much more "wood" can it fit?
- I got the standard seats and they are fine, but the headrests are close to a laugh!

The E60 is a really good quality package but one can see that the materials are
way too cheap and light.

A extra touch of quality is needed!

carfreak

I agree with you. It's funny, my wife's Altima seats are so much more comfortable than mine.

das

I changed everything to LED, and this was one of the best things I ever did to that car:

http://forums.e60.net/index.php?s=&showtop...ndpost&p=223058

carfreak

Looks great, but only at night. I love the look on the new e46 coupe tail light even when it's not lit.

The old e39 tails and the e63 looks amazing at night

das

Actually the new LEDs I started using (post #40 on that page) are actually daytime visible, and look quite good during the day as well.

But I'd love OEM LED taillamps on E60, like they were supposed to have in the first place.

needforspeed

I like the 'minimalist' design direction BMW have taken, but I think the e60 interior as an early example of this is not entirely successful.

I certainly agree that the plastic parts of the dash and the ac controls and display are not as good as they should be. I didn't expect to find more basic climate control in the e60 than in the e46, but that is what BMW have designed.

Having just driven an 06 model I can see that there is some minor improvement, but this is just normal evolution, I don't think early models were done on the cheap - I just think that the first of anything always has niggles.

The early e46's were also less polished than the later ones.

One thing I don't agree with is extra wood - I think there is quite enough.

jet190rs

They don't make 'em like they used to. I think with every new car, luxury automakers learn new ways to cut corners. The E90's interior is even worse...