E90 vs E92

ersin · 05-10-2008, 06:26 PM

What are the differences between US spec M3s, besides the obvious -- weight, dimensions, and number of doors?

Here's a partial list:

o Carbon fiber roof available and standard on coupe, not available for sedan.
o Space gray metallic color available as option on coupe, not sedan.
o Auto sunshade adds two (manual) side window shades on sedan and is $50 more than the coupe.
o Transmission tunnel goes all the way back to the back seats in the coupe, obstruction passing from one side to the other on the floor and making the coupe a four passenger vehicle. By contrast the sedan's center hump stops behind the front seats allowing the sedan to seat five passengers. But I wouldn't want to sit in that middle seat.
o The doors on the coupe are longer making room for two door pockets in each door, with one of them in each door folding out. The sedan's doors are shorter and only have one pocket that does not fold out.
o Coupe doors have ambient lighting, sedan does not.
o Rear ends are different, including taillights.
o Rear ///M3 badge is bigger on coupe than sedan.
o Seat belt valet in coupe, not available for sedan.

What did I miss?

ersin · 05-10-2008, 06:37 PM

One other things I forgot: on BMWUSA website M-DCT is specified as an option for the coupe but not the sedan. And the M3 convertible is not on the website at all.

bmstyle71 · 05-10-2008, 07:11 PM

INTERESTING seems to be a lot of stuff on the coupe and not on the sedan hmmm I didnt know the CF roof was only for the coupe. thanks

JEllis · 05-10-2008, 07:14 PM

Like the E36 M3 sedan I would imagine the E90 has a somewhat stiffer frame/chasis...although no human being will be able to tell the difference...

Jason

-=Hot|Ice=- · 05-10-2008, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laszlo

Are you sure about the ambient lighting? I thought that as not standard on ALL e90s?

Yes, the ambiant lighting on the inside of the door is coupe only.

craazy · 05-10-2008, 09:19 PM

The M3 gill in the front quarter panel is also different on the coupe vs sedan. I prefer the coupe look.

Mo_zhp · 05-10-2008, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JEllis

Like the E36 M3 sedan I would imagine the E90 has a somewhat stiffer frame/chasis...although no human being will be able to tell the difference...

Jason

Also with the E46 as well.

Jason · 05-11-2008, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by craazy

The M3 gill in the front quarter panel is also different on the coupe vs sedan. I prefer the coupe look.

Didn't realize this, how are they different?

Jason · 05-11-2008, 09:06 AM

Also I think seating position is (or feels) different (maybe as a result of the physical dimensions of the car). For example, there's more windshield rake on the coupe so you feel more slung back while seating, while you feel more upright in the sedan with its more upright windshield.

ersin · 05-11-2008, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JEllis

Like the E36 M3 sedan I would imagine the E90 has a somewhat stiffer frame/chasis...although no human being will be able to tell the difference...

Jason

Although I haven't read anything about this from BMW, others are saying the the official word from BMW is that the coupe is stiffer than the sedan. I don't know if this is true or not.

icemang17 · 05-11-2008, 01:11 PM

One thing thats odd is the sedan is smaller than the coupe....just by a little bit, but it is shorter....$3k cheaper too? However the coupe is lighter, probably by around 50-100lbs...but I have seen sedan's tested at 3582lbs....which is quite light considering.... I do think the rear end of the sedan looks a bit more aggressive than the coupe too

craazy · 05-11-2008, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason

Didn't realize this, how are they different?

the gill on the sedan looks kinda like the one on the old E46 M3. It's like a hole is cut into the panel and a M3 gill insert is installed. The coupes has been redesigned and rather than have a hole with an insert it's part of the fender.

e46e92love · 05-12-2008, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JEllis

Like the E36 M3 sedan I would imagine the E90 has a somewhat stiffer frame/chasis...although no human being will be able to tell the difference...

Jason

I believe you are mistaken, because the regular e92 frame is stiffer than the regular e90 frame and the //M uses the same frames.

dronell3 · 05-12-2008, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by craazy

The M3 gill in the front quarter panel is also different on the coupe vs sedan. I prefer the coupe look.

uhh..I think they're exactly the same buddy...check it again....

par4bmw · 05-12-2008, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dronell3

uhh..I think they're exactly the same buddy...check it again....

Huh, better check again yourself. Most certainly different.

dronell3 · 05-12-2008, 12:49 AM

my bad...always thought that they were the same since the hood, headlights, and front bumpers are.... Thanks for the pics...

03SG///M3 · 05-12-2008, 09:48 AM

I really wish someone could confirm if the E92 has an indeed stiffer chassis than the E90 because if history repeates itself, the opposite is true.

ersin · 05-12-2008, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by par4bmw

Huh, better check again yourself. Most certainly different.
...

Good catch. They certainly are different. I like the coupe's better.

R68 · 05-12-2008, 10:53 AM

I can't speak on the chassis stiffness issue, but my friend attended the M3 driving experience last Oct. in Nuremberg. He's a BMW performance instructor himself and has owned three M3's. Anyway, all the BMW factory drivers stated the sedan handled better than the coupe. After three coupes, I found it interesting he just ordered an E90 DCT for August delivery.

par4bmw · 05-12-2008, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 03SG///M3

I really wish someone could confirm if the E92 has an indeed stiffer chassis than the E90 because if history repeates itself, the opposite is true.

No hard proof that I have seen. But as said above, I do not believe the stiffness advantage the coupe has in the 3 would be entirely lost (or reversed) in the M3.

Here are a couple of references for the E92:

"With a combination of steel, aluminum and plastic, the new Coupe body weighs 22 lb. less than the sedan’s, yet is 25 percent stiffer."

http://www.roadandtrack.com/article....rticle_id=3948

"Fortunately, the 335i avoids the perpetual weight gain of modern cars, squeaking in at 22 pounds lighter than its sedan stablemate, despite besting the sedan's chassis stiffness by 25 percent."

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=116129

consolidated · 05-12-2008, 11:46 AM

sedan: 4 doors and your friends and family don't look have to recreate a childbirth scene when they get in and out.

e46e92love · 05-12-2008, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R68

I can't speak on the chassis stiffness issue, but my friend attended the M3 driving experience last Oct. in Nuremberg. He's a BMW performance instructor himself and has owned three M3's. Anyway, all the BMW factory drivers stated the sedan handled better than the coupe. After three coupes, I found it interesting he just ordered an E90 DCT for August delivery.

Ok, some things I believe, many things in fact, but this is not one of them.......

05-10-2008, 06:26 PM	#1
ersin Brigadier General 126 Rep 4,144 Posts Drives: 17 YMB F80 M3 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Maryland iTrader: (1)	E90 vs E92 What are the differences between US spec M3s, besides the obvious -- weight, dimensions, and number of doors? Here's a partial list: o Carbon fiber roof available and standard on coupe, not available for sedan. o Space gray metallic color available as option on coupe, not sedan. o Auto sunshade adds two (manual) side window shades on sedan and is $50 more than the coupe. o Transmission tunnel goes all the way back to the back seats in the coupe, obstruction passing from one side to the other on the floor and making the coupe a four passenger vehicle. By contrast the sedan's center hump stops behind the front seats allowing the sedan to seat five passengers. But I wouldn't want to sit in that middle seat. o The doors on the coupe are longer making room for two door pockets in each door, with one of them in each door folding out. The sedan's doors are shorter and only have one pocket that does not fold out. o Coupe doors have ambient lighting, sedan does not. o Rear ends are different, including taillights. o Rear ///M3 badge is bigger on coupe than sedan. o Seat belt valet in coupe, not available for sedan. What did I miss? __________________ 2017 F80 YMB. Last edited by ersin; 05-10-2008 at 06:28 PM.. Reason: Added seat belt valet.
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05-10-2008, 06:37 PM	#2
ersin Brigadier General 126 Rep 4,144 Posts Drives: 17 YMB F80 M3 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Maryland iTrader: (1)	One other things I forgot: on BMWUSA website M-DCT is specified as an option for the coupe but not the sedan. And the M3 convertible is not on the website at all. __________________ 2017 F80 YMB.
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05-10-2008, 07:11 PM	#3
bmstyle71 Captain 115 Rep 635 Posts Drives: jet black e92 m3 Join Date: May 2008 Location: tampa florida iTrader: (0)	INTERESTING seems to be a lot of stuff on the coupe and not on the sedan hmmm I didnt know the CF roof was only for the coupe. thanks
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05-10-2008, 07:14 PM	#4
JEllis Major General 532 Rep 5,498 Posts Drives: E36 M3, E92 M3 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Dallas/Ft. Worth iTrader: (4)	Like the E36 M3 sedan I would imagine the E90 has a somewhat stiffer frame/chasis...although no human being will be able to tell the difference... Jason __________________ Instagram: jellismotorwerks
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05-10-2008, 09:19 PM	#6
craazy Registered 0 Rep 4 Posts Drives: need a new car Join Date: May 2008 Location: MA iTrader: (0)	The M3 gill in the front quarter panel is also different on the coupe vs sedan. I prefer the coupe look.
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05-11-2008, 09:06 AM	#9
Jason Administrator 40807 Rep 21,240 Posts Drives: F80 M3 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Also I think seating position is (or feels) different (maybe as a result of the physical dimensions of the car). For example, there's more windshield rake on the coupe so you feel more slung back while seating, while you feel more upright in the sedan with its more upright windshield. __________________ Check on the Latest BMW News Become a fan of Bimmerpost Facebook Follow us on Bimmerpost Twitter Subscribe to Bimmerpost Youtube Channel
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05-11-2008, 01:11 PM	#11
icemang17 Captain 41 Rep 644 Posts Drives: 2008 E92 M3 DCT Join Date: May 2008 Location: Stockton CA iTrader: (0)	One thing thats odd is the sedan is smaller than the coupe....just by a little bit, but it is shorter....$3k cheaper too? However the coupe is lighter, probably by around 50-100lbs...but I have seen sedan's tested at 3582lbs....which is quite light considering.... I do think the rear end of the sedan looks a bit more aggressive than the coupe too __________________ Brian 2008 E92 M3, MR, DCT, extended BB leather, loaded! 1988 Porsche 928S4, Guards red/Champagne leather 1989 Porsche 928S4 track beast!!!
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05-12-2008, 12:49 AM	#16
dronell3 Second Lieutenant 27 Rep 271 Posts Drives: 2008 E90 M3 - sold Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: San Diego iTrader: (2)	my bad...always thought that they were the same since the hood, headlights, and front bumpers are.... Thanks for the pics...
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05-12-2008, 09:48 AM	#17
03SG///M3 Lieutenant 67 Rep 579 Posts Drives: 328 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: CT iTrader: (0)	I really wish someone could confirm if the E92 has an indeed stiffer chassis than the E90 because if history repeates itself, the opposite is true.
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05-12-2008, 10:53 AM	#19
R68 Maverick-y 17 Rep 80 Posts Drives: M Uber Alles Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: 5700 ft. iTrader: (0)	I can't speak on the chassis stiffness issue, but my friend attended the M3 driving experience last Oct. in Nuremberg. He's a BMW performance instructor himself and has owned three M3's. Anyway, all the BMW factory drivers stated the sedan handled better than the coupe. After three coupes, I found it interesting he just ordered an E90 DCT for August delivery.
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05-12-2008, 11:46 AM	#21
consolidated Lieutenant Colonel 205 Rep 1,864 Posts Drives: F80 M3 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Texas iTrader: (2) Garage List 2016 Porsche GT4 [0.00] 1999 Porsche Spec B ... [0.00] 2014 Ram 1500 Laram ... [0.00] 2007 Porsche GT3 RS [10.00] 2013 Tesla Model S 85 [0.00]	sedan: 4 doors and your friends and family don't look have to recreate a childbirth scene when they get in and out.
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