Seating position compared to an E90?

michaelalex3 · 02-16-2021, 06:22 PM

As my search for a nice E61 begins to seem more and more hopeless, I'm revisiting the idea of picking up an F34. Weirdly, possibly my biggest concern is the seating position. I've read it's higher than a typical 3 series, but how much so? and can it be adjusted to be low? I'd love comparisons to an E90 if possible, as that's what I'm driving now (and I personally feel the E90 seating position is a bit high, even at the lowest setting). I know an F34 isn't going to feel like a sports car, but I don't want to feel like I'm driving a bus either.

Sportstick · 02-16-2021, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michaelalex3

I know an F34 isn't going to feel like a sports car, but I don't want to feel like I'm driving a bus either.

You will decide when you test drive, but this is not at all the case. I'm sorry I cannot offer the E90 comparison, but I do go back and forth from my 2 Series to the 3GT. The GT experience is not at all SUV-ish...it feels like a typical passenger car while the 2 feels lower.

Billfitz · 02-16-2021, 09:43 PM

It's about an inch higher. I wouldn't mind a bit higher. I have my seat as high as it will go. It's not that the F34 is high, it's that the F30 is low.

MY340i · 02-17-2021, 02:15 PM

The F34 has a great driving position, much better than my F30's.

KCee · 02-17-2021, 02:53 PM

It's nothing like driving an SUV, but it is slightly higher than a typical sporty car. I came from an 06 TL and the GT is higher by an inch or so. My wife has an SUV and I thought about getting one, but I have to drive a decent amount and prefer a car. I even had a Subaru Outback years ago (hand me down from my wife) and the GT is still lower I think. When I compared the GT to the regular 3, 4 and 5 series I could tell the GT was higher, but maybe only noticeable when you are driving it on a twisty route. If you prioritize sportiness then it may not be the right choice.

admranger · 02-17-2021, 09:00 PM

I moved from an e90m3 to the 330i gt. Negligible seating differences. Ride height of the car is the main difference.

michaelalex3 · 02-18-2021, 08:56 AM

Thanks for the replies everyone! Sounds like the driving position won't be an issue for me. I'm pretty excited to start trying to find one of these, it looks like 340is are down to the mid-low 20s.

admranger · 02-18-2021, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michaelalex3

Thanks for the replies everyone! Sounds like the driving position won't be an issue for me. I'm pretty excited to start trying to find one of these, it looks like 340is are down to the mid-low 20s.

I'd like to find a fully loaded (M Sport, active cruise, all the safety nannies, etc.) 2019 340i GT to replace my 2018 330i GT when the lease my up in January. I'm quite fond of the space the car has. Adding more powwwaarrrr and some more luxurious interior than my 330 (especially the steering wheel) would perfect the package.

Billfitz · 02-18-2021, 09:35 PM

You should look around for 640GT G32 as well.

admranger · 02-19-2021, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billfitz

You should look around for 640GT G32 as well.

I will do that! I’m very tempted by the M550 though. I may want to keep my eyes focused on the smaller chassis F34, even though the G series chassis are better.

Billfitz · 02-19-2021, 09:46 PM

If I was in need of a new car now it would probably be a 640GT. The interior is gorgeous.

02-16-2021, 06:22 PM	#1
michaelalex3 Private 13 Rep 52 Posts Drives: Z4MR, E61 535i M-Sport Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Raleigh, NC iTrader: (0)	Seating position compared to an E90? As my search for a nice E61 begins to seem more and more hopeless, I'm revisiting the idea of picking up an F34. Weirdly, possibly my biggest concern is the seating position. I've read it's higher than a typical 3 series, but how much so? and can it be adjusted to be low? I'd love comparisons to an E90 if possible, as that's what I'm driving now (and I personally feel the E90 seating position is a bit high, even at the lowest setting). I know an F34 isn't going to feel like a sports car, but I don't want to feel like I'm driving a bus either.
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02-16-2021, 09:43 PM	#3
Billfitz Lieutenant General 8242 Rep 16,077 Posts Drives: '15 328iX GT Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New Hampshire iTrader: (0)	It's about an inch higher. I wouldn't mind a bit higher. I have my seat as high as it will go. It's not that the F34 is high, it's that the F30 is low.
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02-17-2021, 02:15 PM	#4
MY340i Major 720 Rep 1,444 Posts Drives: Various Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: London iTrader: (0)	The F34 has a great driving position, much better than my F30's.
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02-17-2021, 02:53 PM	#5
KCee Private First Class 41 Rep 105 Posts Drives: BMW 328 GT XDrive 2016 Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Hartford, CT iTrader: (0)	It's nothing like driving an SUV, but it is slightly higher than a typical sporty car. I came from an 06 TL and the GT is higher by an inch or so. My wife has an SUV and I thought about getting one, but I have to drive a decent amount and prefer a car. I even had a Subaru Outback years ago (hand me down from my wife) and the GT is still lower I think. When I compared the GT to the regular 3, 4 and 5 series I could tell the GT was higher, but maybe only noticeable when you are driving it on a twisty route. If you prioritize sportiness then it may not be the right choice.
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02-17-2021, 09:00 PM	#6
admranger Retired Curmudgeon 2985 Rep 4,047 Posts Drives: ‘19 X3M40i, ‘18 m550i Join Date: May 2011 Location: Las Vegas, NV iTrader: (1)	I moved from an e90m3 to the 330i gt. Negligible seating differences. Ride height of the car is the main difference. __________________ '19 X3 M40 Carbon Black/Oyster, '23 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Summit, Past BMWs: '18 M550i, '18 330 GT, '16 X5 40e, '11 E90M3, '06 X5 4.4, '03 330i ZHP, '02 M3, '97 Z3 2.8, '95 M3 (2x), '94 530i (manual), '92 525i (manual), '88 M3, '87 325iS
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02-18-2021, 08:56 AM	#7
michaelalex3 Private 13 Rep 52 Posts Drives: Z4MR, E61 535i M-Sport Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Raleigh, NC iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the replies everyone! Sounds like the driving position won't be an issue for me. I'm pretty excited to start trying to find one of these, it looks like 340is are down to the mid-low 20s.
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02-18-2021, 09:35 PM	#9
Billfitz Lieutenant General 8242 Rep 16,077 Posts Drives: '15 328iX GT Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New Hampshire iTrader: (0)	You should look around for 640GT G32 as well.
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02-19-2021, 09:46 PM	#11
Billfitz Lieutenant General 8242 Rep 16,077 Posts Drives: '15 328iX GT Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New Hampshire iTrader: (0)	If I was in need of a new car now it would probably be a 640GT. The interior is gorgeous.
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