M3 interior and wheels

I went to drive the M3 sedan last night in preparation for a possible ED this summer for one and am turned off my some of the newer changes on the interior and wheels I hadn't noticed before.

The center console where the shifter is looks like a giant piece of plastic out of a Kia or Toyota. My 1993 Camry had a similar plastic center console. My '07 335i at least has a center console covered in wood.

Is wood interior even an option on the 2011 M3 on a special order?
Can the center console be "dressed up" like it was in previous years with trim, wood, aluminum, carbon, etc?

And what is up with the wheels. BMW used to have the sweet M wheels as a carry over from the E46 M3 and now they are some cheap looking knock off looking wheels. Does anyone know what the numeric designation is for the competition package wheels or have a picture of those? Any other choices of wheels from BMW?

Just curious why when I am ready to order one why I feel like I should keep my 335i and get a Dinan upgrade or something.

Anyone have any info to make this a more pleasurable experience?

ya you should keep your 335 and get a Dinan upgrade or something

Get a clue and then get lost.

yup, agreed. keep the 335.

Thanks for the helpful comments.

And here I was just trying to find out what, if any, special order trims were available for the interior and expressing my opinion on the wheels and how I liked the previous M wheels to there better.

Not too sure what clue I need to get with all of this help.

I have loved the look of the M3 exterior for sure. Very sharp and better lines than my 335. I am just not sold on the interior console as it looks cheap in my opinion, not racey, futuristic, or cool, just plain. Is there something I am not seeing in the vehicles I drove or the catalog that looks better?

You realize that all M's have that black console? And you basically insulted every M owner here? And every M owner who has the wheels you're talking about?

And you realize how that sounds? Coming from someone who has a 15-20K cheaper car?

personaly im happy with the wheels i think they are awesome. If the console bothers you that bad that it becomes a dealbreaker then just stick wit 335. The M is about the driving experience not the center console. Different trims are available.

I guess it did sound more harsh than I meant. My car is less than $8k different than a similarly equiped M3 I was quoted last night, so price shouldn't be the issue.

I guess the easy answer is that the wheels are the wheels, take it or leave it. Console is plastic like it or not.

Agreed, the M is about the driving experience...but it should be good looking from every angle. I am not sure yet if it is a deal breaker, it was just much different than I had hoped and more of a let down. What other trim options exist?

What wheel style comes with the competition package?

For me, I did not buy the M3 for its interior or wheels. It's the driving pleasure I get each time I drive it. I guess you could try to wrap the console in carbon fiber if that suits you. To each is own, I guess.

hoehne wrote

I went to drive the M3 sedan last night in preparation for a possible ED this summer for one and am turned off my some of the newer changes on the interior and wheels I hadn't noticed before.

I'll attempt to help...

The center console where the shifter is looks like a giant piece of plastic out of a Kia or Toyota. My 1993 Camry had a similar plastic center console. My '07 335i at least has a center console covered in wood.

It's actually covered in leather. You can cover it in carbon fiber or whatever other material you please after you get the car.

Is wood interior even an option on the 2011 M3 on a special order?
Can the center console be "dressed up" like it was in previous years with trim, wood, aluminum, carbon, etc?

Not that I'm aware of, but I'm sure your dealer can swap center consoles with another e9x... for a price.

And what is up with the wheels. BMW used to have the sweet M wheels as a carry over from the E46 M3 and now they are some cheap looking knock off looking wheels. Does anyone know what the numeric designation is for the competition package wheels or have a picture of those? Any other choices of wheels from BMW?

please specify.. the 18's are not that hideous... the 19's are forged and look somewhat like the E46 19'' wheels. I don't know the code of the ZCP wheels, but you can see plenty of examples if you search for e92 competition package or M3 GTS.

Just curious why when I am ready to order one why I feel like I should keep my 335i and get a Dinan upgrade or something.

The Dinan upgrade is great, but you're missing the point if you're comparing that to an M3.

Anyone have any info to make this a more pleasurable experience?

uhh..... whaddaya need to be burped or something?

These are the wheels that I am missing and I just found them in this picture on the bmwusa.com website.

http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Content/Vehicles/2010/M/M3Sedan/default.aspx

What are these wheels or what option do they come with?

center console - if you care more about that then the rest of the car, you shouldn't be buying an M. Seriously.

wheels - you can always sell the OEM wheels and get a new set. Tons of guys would be happy to buy 'ugly' OEM wheels from you.

hoehne wrote

And what is up with the wheels. BMW used to have the sweet M wheels as a carry over from the E46 M3 and now they are some cheap looking knock off looking wheels. Does anyone know what the numeric designation is for the competition package wheels or have a picture of those? Any other choices of wheels from BMW?

And by the way, those "cheap looking knock off" 18s are actually BBS wheels. I think you'd have a hard time finding anyone to agree that BBS fall in the "knock-off" category.

Other than that, do what makes you happy. Either car is a great choice, as long as you're having fun with it!

hoehne wrote

These are the wheels that I am missing and I just found them in this picture on the bmwusa.com website.

http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Content/Vehicles/2010/M/M3Sedan/default.aspx

What are these wheels or what option do they come with?

Those are the OEM 19's. All you have to do is click the 19'' option when building your M3.

Thanks for the help with the wheels. They are listed as the 19" option in place of the stock 18's.

I still haven't found a good picture of the comp pkg wheels. I will just have to wait for the 2011 catalog for that I guess.

The ideas for the console are good as well. Maybe it will grow on me.

Just need to send the paperwork in now for the new 2011 535i and M3 Euro Delivery.

hoehne wrote

Thanks for the help with the wheels. They are listed as the 19" option in place of the stock 18's.

I still haven't found a good picture of the comp pkg wheels. I will just have to wait for the 2011 catalog for that I guess.

search: M3 comp pkg...

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=350971&highlight=m3+comp+pkg

i actually find the black plain console sportier than the trimmed ones. are you on something or what?

Guys, please tone down the attitude a bit. The OP didn't come on here to attack anyone, and yet everyone seems to be getting childishly defensive over some purely subjective remarks. Frankly, I do think our center console is rather bland compared to comparable Audis or MBZs. Does that fact lessen the pleasure I extract from my car? No. Just answer the questions he asked professionally and move on.

I was going to post one of these... and then one of these and then one of these :bonk:and then and maybe and some

But I just decided to help you out... This is what you can do with your nice leather wrapped stock console.







That should do it.

D

Since you're in Chicago want to check my car out tomorrow since it will be sunny and close to the 40's the next three days?

My interior trim is a little nicer. Or you can option out Titan Shadow and have it painted to whatever color you want and you could always wrap the center or trim and paint that too.

I have extended leather, so it might make you feel better about getting that if simple trim options is what bothers you.
Get aftermarket wheels anyway or go with the ZCP since you're ordering new

Definitive wrote

I was going to post one of these... and then one of these and then one of these :bonk:and then and maybe and some

But I just decided to help you out... This is what you can do with your nice leather wrapped stock console.







That should do it.

D

Ya beat me to it Jaime. I too was going to say to wrap the console in CF or another trim of your desire. I persoanlly dig the OEM 19"s, not too crazy about the OEM 18"s though.

But seriously, wheels are the easiest mod to choose from. Literally thousands of options, plus selling the OEM's is very easy assuming they are priced right and in good condition.

Not beating a dead horse with a stick:repost:, but if interior trim and wheels are a deciding factor in not getting the M, then you shouldn't be considering the car to begin with.

slammedm3 wrote

ya you should keep your 335 and get a Dinan upgrade or something

alpineweissM3 wrote

Get a clue and then get lost.

Just reading these 2 right after his post made me go

The M interior is plain and simple...so you can focus on driving.