F30POST
F30POST
2012-2015 BMW 3-Series and 4-Series Forum
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
BMW 3-Series and 4-Series Forum (F30 / F32) | F30POST > 2012-2019 BMW 3 and 4-Series Forums > General F30 Sedan / F32 Coupe / F36 Gran Coupe Forum > Why doesn't the F30 have pillarless doors ?
proTUNING Freaks
Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      03-19-2014, 06:17 PM   #1
jusdorange
YOLO
jusdorange's Avatar
Monaco
437
Rep
2,854
Posts

Drives: #mw
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Monaco

iTrader: (0)

Why doesn't the F30 have pillarless doors ?

Like the 4 series ?

It looks cooler

Cost ?
Safety?
Appreciate 0
      03-19-2014, 06:46 PM   #2
Bluelondon
Second Lieutenant
43
Rep
232
Posts

Drives: 2017 X3 35i
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: California, USA

iTrader: (0)

I guess it's a coupe thang.
Appreciate 0
      03-19-2014, 09:31 PM   #3
S4NoMore
Major
S4NoMore's Avatar
United_States
252
Rep
1,003
Posts

Drives: 16 340i, 15 X3d, 91 318i
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Philly suburbs

iTrader: (2)

Garage List
2016 BMW 340i  [0.00]
2015 BMW X3 28d  [0.00]
1991 BMW 318i  [8.66]
Looks cooler.... with the doors open? Are you really that concerned with the specific look of cars with the doors open? I suppose you're not alone.

The term is frameless windows. The reasoning for a frameless window is mainly weight, and as you say the iconic style of a 2-door car for those who oblige. With such a big door you have a lot of heft to open and close.

I believe they are used on so-called 4-door coupes (CLS, the gran coupes etc) to emphasize the coupe-ness and give that look. No other benefit I can see in that case, where you don't have a rather large door.

Why not in the F30? Probably because of the added complication and fragility. Window regulators must bump the window in and out of the roof with every opening and closing... people may tend to use the glass to close the door... and so on. In my opinion, and likely that of BMW designers and many others (Subaru has gone away from the frameless sedan windows) the door with a frameless window looks silly on a proper sedan. Or, at least not good enough to warrant the specific engineering that must go into them.
Appreciate 0
      03-19-2014, 09:38 PM   #4
2blu
Captain
2blu's Avatar
Canada
197
Rep
923
Posts

Drives: 540i XDrive ///M Sport
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Montreal

iTrader: (1)

Having owned a coupe with frameless windows I'm actually surprised that the glass was never broken from constant use to close the door. Not just by me, but passengers as well.

I prefer framed doors all day.
Appreciate 0
      03-19-2014, 09:41 PM   #5
chylld
Major
chylld's Avatar
54
Rep
1,025
Posts

Drives: G08 iX3
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Sydney, Australia

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
i love how they look on the 4gc...

Appreciate 0
      03-19-2014, 09:44 PM   #6
DesertSmokeBBQ
Captain
DesertSmokeBBQ's Avatar
United_States
38
Rep
933
Posts

Drives: 2014 F30 335i M-Sport
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: San Diego, CA

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2013 BMW  [0.00]
Same reason mirrors aren't coded to fold with CA/remote... Reason I was given is the increased wear on the motors which would cause premature failure...
__________________
'14 Estoril Blue II F30 - 335i - ZMM - ZPP - ZTP - ZPS -
2TP

Traded 9-1-13 '13 Estoril Blue II F30 - 328i - ZMM - ZPP -ZDY - ZTB - 403 - 465 - 494 - 4DX- LC (Black) - 6NL
Appreciate 0
      03-19-2014, 09:46 PM   #7
openwheelracing
Captain
192
Rep
814
Posts

Drives: 5 different 3 Series
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Santa Barbara, CA

iTrader: (0)

Give me the framed doors any day. No thank you to coupe style doors on s sport sedan.
Appreciate 0
      03-19-2014, 10:00 PM   #8
2blu
Captain
2blu's Avatar
Canada
197
Rep
923
Posts

Drives: 540i XDrive ///M Sport
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Montreal

iTrader: (1)

Also whenever you open the door it slides down half an inch and when you close it, it slides back up half an inch. Leaves a nice streak every time you wash your car. No thanks lol
Appreciate 0
      03-19-2014, 10:01 PM   #9
2blu
Captain
2blu's Avatar
Canada
197
Rep
923
Posts

Drives: 540i XDrive ///M Sport
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Montreal

iTrader: (1)

It looks cool with the windows down. Looks silly with the windows up IMO
Appreciate 0
      03-20-2014, 05:55 AM   #10
jusdorange
YOLO
jusdorange's Avatar
Monaco
437
Rep
2,854
Posts

Drives: #mw
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Monaco

iTrader: (0)

I've seen pillarless doors used in the motoring press , maybe a UK term

Anyway you notice it every time you open the door , so it's not a niche aspect of the car

I'm going to have to wait and see the 4er GC in real life , see if 4 doors makes sense in that style
Appreciate 0
      03-20-2014, 07:50 AM   #11
S4NoMore
Major
S4NoMore's Avatar
United_States
252
Rep
1,003
Posts

Drives: 16 340i, 15 X3d, 91 318i
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Philly suburbs

iTrader: (2)

Garage List
2016 BMW 340i  [0.00]
2015 BMW X3 28d  [0.00]
1991 BMW 318i  [8.66]
Here is what's meant by pillarless:



In the case of some cars, and all convertibles, there is no B-pillar above the door line. You can roll the front and rear windows down and have a completely open space, as if it is one window.

I think the frameless doors look decent in the 4GC, but I don't like how fragile the door feels.
Appreciate 0
      03-20-2014, 08:04 AM   #12
chylld
Major
chylld's Avatar
54
Rep
1,025
Posts

Drives: G08 iX3
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Sydney, Australia

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
it looks fragile but they were never a problem on my E82 (even when passengers closed the door by pushing the window)
Appreciate 0
      03-20-2014, 09:00 AM   #13
carzaddict
Lieutenant Colonel
155
Rep
1,573
Posts

Drives: 2015 Cadillac Escalade ESV
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: NJ

iTrader: (0)

i dont think it makes sense structurally to make a pillar-less sedan.

frameless on the other hand is nice looking. it bothered me because passengers always hold the window to open and close the door.....but i would still consider getting another car with frameless doors
__________________
2015i Cadillac Escalade ESV
Appreciate 0
      03-21-2014, 10:07 AM   #14
kevinpb639
Private
United_States
19
Rep
94
Posts

Drives: 2017 F15 X5
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: South Florida

iTrader: (0)

^+1
I think it would look very weird with a full size rear window.
__________________

Current Ride: 2017 BMW X5 M-Sport | Carbon Black Metallic
Previous Ride: 2017 BMW 340i M-Sport JB+| Mineral Gray
Previous Ride: 2014 BMW 428i M-Sport 6MT | Alpine White
Appreciate 0
      03-21-2014, 12:09 PM   #15
Saphirschwarz
Major
Saphirschwarz's Avatar
Belgium
1066
Rep
1,366
Posts

Drives: M2
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Belgium

iTrader: (0)

I understand some people wouldnt like those Benz pillarless windows designwise but it must be very nice for visibility though.
Appreciate 0
      03-21-2014, 01:33 PM   #16
snowghost
Colonel
snowghost's Avatar
United_States
155
Rep
2,266
Posts

Drives: '13 335i M-Sport 6MT
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SoCal

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by DesertSmokeBBQ View Post
Same reason mirrors aren't coded to fold with CA/remote... Reason I was given is the increased wear on the motors which would cause premature failure...
My E46 M3 Coupe never had an issue the 6 years I had it. But I did worry about passengers closing the door by grabbing the window.
__________________
F30 Sapphire Black M-Sport 335i 6MT
Appreciate 0
      03-21-2014, 03:09 PM   #17
Tommy_hf
First Lieutenant
Netherlands
70
Rep
327
Posts

Drives: F36 CQ M, Z4 E85 3.0iS MSL SC
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Netherlands

iTrader: (0)

And I've had my fair share of trouble getting in the car with windows frozen shut to the door jambs. With framed doors I just pull the door and it pops open
Appreciate 0
      03-22-2014, 09:53 AM   #18
34.50
Lieutenant
34.50's Avatar
United_States
38
Rep
596
Posts

Drives: 2013 335i xDrive Sport Line
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Upstate NY

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tommy_hf View Post
And I've had my fair share of trouble getting in the car with windows frozen shut to the door jambs. With framed doors I just pull the door and it pops open
This right here folks. If you have pillarless doors, they slide down a little every time you open the door. It sucks when it does this when there's snow/ice. They look amazing, but they're not practical in the winter. Also, depending on the design, wind noise can be a huge problem (if it doesn't seal properly).
__________________
2013 BMW 335i xDrive Sport Line
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:45 AM.




f30post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST