[Squawks]

Hey, folks - I apologize in advance if this appears to be a platitudinous thread...but I had to ask (especially for those of you more experienced BMW owners).

2 dr vs 4 dr - what really is the difference? While the E90 coupe obviously isn't even remotely nearing its production date yet, I have been curious about this comparison, as I won't be making the plunge until next year.

From what I gathered from the previous E46 model, it only appears to me that the only difference between the coupe and the sedan is that the coupe only has 2 doors instead of 4 - is the rear seating space compromised in any way relative to volumic space?

Obviously, there's also points taken that the coupe offers a more sportier look at the cost of sacrificing a bit of its pragmatic side. Any other differences I'm not noting?

[Robert]

Coupe is a 4 seater and sedan is 5? Or only M3 has 4 seats.

[ward]

nope, me E30 and E36 M3 have both been coupes, both seated 5 and both had the same rear legroom as the sedans

with the coupe you don't have a b pillar in your face when you do a lane check, also with the coupe you usually get frameless windows (which are cool)

[lux.sh]

really. 4dr is pointless. unless you got family to haul ass around.

[Dani]

Originally Posted by lux.sh

really. 4dr is pointless. unless you got family to haul ass around.

I don't see the point in paying more just to have two less doors....

[counter_strike]

4-door makes making out in the back-seat easier... the whole point of getting a lux car. impress the girls and then play in the backseat....

[lux.sh]

Originally Posted by Dani

I don't see the point in paying more just to have two less doors....

agreed. I still don't understand why it costs more to make 2drs..
SHouldn't it cost more to add another 2 more doors?

[JamieA]

Originally Posted by lux.sh

agreed. I still don't understand why it costs more to make 2drs..
SHouldn't it cost more to add another 2 more doors?

You pay for the fact that the reinforcement and engineering of the car needs to be redone to provide the required structural rigidity and all the other engineering needed to make the new pannel dies etc etc. All costs that are amortised over a lower product volume.

[govtec]

Originally Posted by lux.sh

agreed. I still don't understand why it costs more to make 2drs..
SHouldn't it cost more to add another 2 more doors?

that's not the reason for the increase in price. you forgot to factor in supply/demand of coupe and u pay a price for looking kool in a coupe. it is just not about price of raw material.

[MCS]

E46 had to change the entire sheetmetal from the behind the a pillar to modify the look between the 4 door and the 2 door. The windshield is steeper on the 4 door, as well as many other cosmetic changes: Front Airdam, etc.

Performance wise, they are the same. Aesthetically, I think the 2 door looks looks sleeker due to the change in windshield and A pillar angle. Practically, isn't 4 doors more usefull than 2?!?

The price of a 2 door is slightly higher because the marketing guys know that the younger set will be more willing to spend on it and the market will bear the price difference.

[lux.sh]

never thought of it this way. good info.

[Robin_NL]

4 door saloon model has more bodystrenght/rigidity than the coupe.

Could be better for example for racing cars.

[BellasBmw]

When i was searching for my bmw- i was solely interested in the 04 330Ci. But due to lack of supply and high demand, i couldnt find any. Finally when i came across a few, they were priced extremely high-starting at $39-42K. So thats when i decided to check out the brand new ones considering i can buy a 325 for cheaper and 10 less horsepower than a USED 330-plus its a new model ..
But i have to admit, everytime i see a 330Ci pull up next to me, i just stare at it a bit .. looks very stylish, and felt way more powerful (but i think thats the torque). I dont regret my decision at all, but i had to weigh in a bunch of factors. My uncle is way into cars, and he told me i'd get better resale on a 4 door than a 2 door, and 4 door is just easier all around when it comes to friends.. I hated having to move my seat and what not in my 2 dr car.

[CC 330i]

I think the 2 door maybe looks a little better, but one thing I hate is climbing over the front seats to get in the back. Also, on the coupe, the front doors are longer, which means when you are opening the door in a parking space, they are not going to be able to open as far out without hitting the car next to you. I know this is minor, but still a consideration, especially when you have to have someone climb into the back and the front door doesn't have room to open all the way.

2 of my friends have BMW 3 series "coupes", and it sort of defeats the purpose of having a sedan for me. The reason I put "coupe" in quotes is because a 2 door sedan is not really a coupe to me, it's sort of an impostor. The new Z4 hardtop is a coupe. The Boxter S and Carrera are coupes. The next 2 door car I buy is going to be a Sports Car, not a 2 door E90 (E92, or whatever).

That being said, the 2 door variant of the E90 will most likely cost more, hold it's value better, and perhaps look a little more sporty. If that's worth the extra money to some people (as it obviously is) I would encourage you to get one.

[txusa03]

I think that if you buy a coupe (consider a more sportier car), your insurance premium is also higher. I think it is also better in a sedan if you ever get into a bad accident. Hauling folks are also easier (like what bella said). For those reasons, I always go for the sedan. Then again, everyone have their own opinion and it really come down to what you like best. The end result is what would make you happier in the end that counts.

[Squawks]

Thanks, folks, for all of your great input. I also just remembered that the other difference between the E46 coupe/saloon is that the coupe has LED taillights. Still a captious issue, however, whether that offsets the premium cost.

I agree with you, CC330 - a 'real' coupe is a 2 seater. I find it amusing the coupe category is contingent on the number of doors, not seats. The G35 coupe is ridiculous - the backseats are barely any usable for anybody over 5'5".

My girlfriend is pretty adamant, anyways, against losing more practicality at the cost of paying a premium. I agree with you, Bella - about the annoyance of having to move the front seats whenever there are 3rd/4th/5th passengers but these days, with power seats, it's actually not that bad. It's still a pain getting in/out with stooping and care (or lack thereof) not to scrape the seats with dirt/mud. In my jalopy right now, I let my two dachshunds jump in the front and they'll hop onto the backseats through the middle. Obviously, with the BMW, they're going to be riding in the trunk.

I've seen others, like some guy with a 545, let his golden retriever hop right onto the back seat. He's not pusillanimous like me - I don't want my bastard children to scratch the seats!

[CC 330i]

Originally Posted by Squawks

The G35 coupe is ridiculous - the backseats are barely any usable for anybody over 5'5".

The G35 Coupe is definitely a 2+2. That's exactly what I like about it over the BMW design though. The G35 coupe is a totally different body than the G35 sedan. The BMW uses basically the same sheet metal for both the 330i and 330Ci. (Boring...)

On a side note, I once had to ride for a long time in the backseat of a 911 turbo when I was a kid, with my neighbor who was the same age as me. We were like 5 feet tall and we still didn't fit! It was very hot sitting over the engine too!

P.S. You are like a walking thesaurus!

[Squawks]

I agree. The G35 coupe is a totally different monster than the horrid G35 sedan.

Regarding my choice of words, I had to spend quite a bit of time studying for the GRE for some PhD programs, and it would be rather profligate for me not to use my hard-earned erudition

Or, perhaps this can be use as an esoteric argot (for only the pedants or those with a dictionary/thesaurus handy)

[djfreex]

Originally Posted by counter_strike

4-door makes making out in the back-seat easier... the whole point of getting a lux car. impress the girls and then play in the backseat....

I BUMP THAT

[djfreex]

Originally Posted by lux.sh

agreed. I still don't understand why it costs more to make 2drs..
SHouldn't it cost more to add another 2 more doors?

Should not it cost more too add a hard top?
I want a BMW coupe - convertible - why are they always the most expensive in the line?

Coolness factor costs a lot :mad:

[CC 330i]

Yes, they are expensive. And you can only get 2 doors if you go convertible.

[HRC]

I got the sedan because I recently got married and plan on having a faimly, otherwise I would've kept my old 2 door coupe. My thought was, "if I'm gonna have to buy a freakin' 4-door, it's gonna be a BM!" and now reflecting back, I'm glad I have a sedan, much easier. If I have the money, I would get a *toy* car, coupe that is, and drive it on the weekends, but if I can only afford one car, this is it!

Danny