2009 BMW M3: Don't Rely on the Back Seats Too Much

Fox Red > spacious

Is this a sarcastic post? That back seat looks very spacious.

I don't really agree. A good friend of mine has a 335i and I have spent considerable time in the back seat when driving up to SF to see a Giants or 49er's game and found there was plenty of space. At 6'1" I'm not super tall, but tall enough that a typical small-car is usually uncomfortable for me and I find the Bimmer just fine (given I don't sit behind the driver). Not spacious like my own car, but just roomy enough and the seats are nicely sculpted with plenty of headroom.

Far be it from me to fling anything resembling undue praise on the pile of crap that is this car, but they look okay to me.

i disagree completely.
i'm 6'1" and think the back seat of the current 3 series is actually quite comfortable; the only exception being the small gap you have to fit your feet through when entering/exiting.

why a pile o crap, mikeolan??

don't bother, it seems that being obnoxious on blogs to annoy people is a hobby of his...

I don't think so. I've sat in the back of a current 3 series sedan with a friend for an hour drive. I didn't find it uncomfortable at all. I am 5'7", so I'm shorter than average, but I was fine. My friend is 5'0" and the two of us were fine back there.

It seems like the last time I was in a car with a decent backseat was....

Still thinking....

Looks fine to me. By the way, if you keep asking for more space, more space, and more space, don't be surprised by the fact that cars are getting bigger and heavier with every generation. However did we fit in the original 3-series!? I'm six feet tall, and I can sit behind myself in my Mini...not for a long period of time, but suffice to say, the 3-series has more than enough space for me.

Allow me to be the fifteenth person to say "looks fine". It's not a limo, it's a compact-ish sedan and its back seat looks like most cars in that size range...accomodating for real adults without cramping them up but not big enough to play twister in. Next!

I cart people ranging in size from my 6'-5" college sophomore son to his four-foot preschool brother in the back seat of my E46, which has less room than the E90, and never get any complaints. And I can sit behind myself (I'm a six-footer).

My wife rides in the back of our 335i all the time to be with the baby. She says it's fine. compared to my e46 it's quite spacious. Not sure why this blog appeared - seems pretty ludicrous as I know many families with the e90 as the "family" car.

As someone who grew up in a household with sports cars my e90 is downright huge in comparison.

Plenty of room. If anything, the E90 is a bit too large.

E46 was just about perfect.

Modern "mid-size" sedans such as Accord and Camry are bus-sized in comparison. If I want to ride a bus, I'll buy a token.

I wouldn't want the back seat to be any bigger. I'm just over 6' and have sat in the back, there is plenty of space. Even in the coupe.

I don't get the "not enough space" comments when made by the same people who later complain that a new 3 series is as big as the 7 series used to be. DUH!!

At this rate I'm surprised they aren't just branding a mini bus with the roundel for all the people that desperately, desperately need more space.

I have an E46 330Ci and I've taken 4 passengers on 300 miles trips without anyone complaining. There is plenty of space unless if you drive with the front seats all the way back.
On that regard, a Mini Cooper '07 I've also driven is was fine to transport 4 adults for 200 miles at a time.

I think the back seats in the E46 coupe are already more than big enough for the amount of times I use it --same story with the trunk.

Stop complaining about size and then complaining about how cars get bigger and heavier year after year.

Cheers

Looks ok to me.....I do like the color of the seats quite a bit. But they are quite hard I have noticed.....there is nothing wrong with nice soft leather with a comfy and soft back seat.

It looks plenty spacious to me as well. My '98 (and '00) Accord had about the same amount and they were considered cavernous for their time.

I dont know how tall the driver would be to have the seat like that but that seat is pretty far forward. The 3 series isn't spacious in the back, never has been. I'm not sure why people feel the need to pretend its something that its not. Next we will hear its great for towing.

No map pockets in this $60k car? I sure don't see any. Also, the read leather is just over the top. Read leather trim or seat inserts would be one thing but that is just excessive.

Looks like a nice backseat to me. I like the red leather.

If you continually haul 4 people around, the backseat might be tight. But then again, most people tend to drive themselves or 1 other. I lived with a VW Golf for many years - not much of a backseat given it is a 4 door vehicle, but it worked fine for my lifestyle.

I'll join the chorus. The backseat isn't huge compared to a modern full-size Accord (or Taurus), but it's completely serviceable for 4 people. Heck, we have a Britax Roundabout in the outboard position and can (and do) *still* carry four adults on short trips, in addition to the kid.

1487 - we're not blindly defending it. we're saying it is indeed useful based on EXPERIENCE. there is a difference. not sure how that can be construed as pretending it's something it's not...

by the way, there's also a difference between "read" and "red".

i become more convinced with each post that people like you and mikeolan have no goal other than to annoy everyone else here. please grow up and stop.

+1 sabastian

People complain that cars are getting bigger, but then they complain that there's not enough room. IL - make up your mind!!!

Solution: CTS-V. More room, more performance, same price.

I get your point ED.
I think is small too, but maybe it has to do with the fact that I´ve been in a car with almost the same specs of the 3 series and was much more spacious and roomy.
Give it a bit more space in the next gen.

Re: 1487
As an owner of a E90 M3, I can attest that I, at 5'-9, can comfortably sit behind myself with a fair bit of kneeroom to spare. I had a 6-footer behind me for a medium-length trip and it was more than adequate for both of us.
The front seats on the picture seems to be set for an average-height driver. They are not far forward by any means.
(On the other hand, two days ago I was in the backseat of an Infiniti EX. THAT was bad)
The E90 series is regarded as a midsize car in its native Europe. It is about as roomy as a late 80's Camry.
As for the red seat, you DON'T have to get it if it is not your style. They offer black, beige, and grey leather as well, in addition to black leather/cloth. One reason we love BMW is their wide array of configurable options. You can custom-build just about any combination you like.

"Not sure why this blog appeared - seems pretty ludicrous as I know many families with the e90 as the "family" car. "

95% of the 3 series I see have no one in the backseat. I rarely ever see kids or carseats in a 3 series. Logic dictates that a car like that is primarily purchased by singles or childless couples. Cars with small backseats and tiny trunks tend not to be "family cars".

"i become more convinced with each post that people like you and mikeolan have no goal other than to annoy everyone else here. please grow up and stop."

actually its annoying when people are so infatuated with ONE car that they start to bend reality and refuse to acknowledge basic facts. This car is NOT spacious. Never has been and likely never will be. This is one reason why BMW makes a 5 and 7 series. If "growing up" entails pretending this is a suitable family car than just call me immature. You need to get a grip.

It's also annoying when post after post praises the M3 for doing what a $70k sports sedan is supposed to do. I mean what exactly do the editors THINK a $70k car is supposed to be like? If this car wasn't extremely fast, luxrious and agile it would be a rip off. It's not a cheap car and it doesn't perform like one.

"As for the red seat, you DON'T have to get it if it is not your style. They offer black, beige, and grey leather as well, in addition to black leather/cloth. One reason we love BMW is their wide array of configurable options. You can custom-build just about any combination you like."

I was aware of that- just saying the red is a little too loud for me. Biege would probably be my pick because German interiors in all black are dull and monochromatic. BMW offer millions of combinations which explains why the cars are so expensive. Reduced efficiency leads to higher prices. Japanese brands try to limit your options (especially Honda) while Euro manufacturers go overboard by offering 30 options on every car.

the total lack of self awareness as to how abrasive and obnoxious your comments are is just stunning.

for whatever reason, you've completely chosen to ignore all of us who are citing personal experience in saying that the 3 series back seat is, in fact, useful (for people of varying heights). i guess since that contradicts your opinions, you feel the need to start posting ridiculous crap here on unrelated subjects. thanks for that. at what point will you notice that the common denominator in these dumb arguments is you?

The BMW 3-series is as big as it should ever get. It’s huge compared to the old ones!

But the design has always been heavily compromised towards driving dynamics at the expense of interior room, particularly because of the 50-50 weight distribution goal. Honda takes the opposite approach – they sacrifice a lot to get the absolute maximum interior space they can. Few companies have such focus.

I’m short for a male and the previous 3-series back seats were always uncomfortable. The new car, being huge, is fine for me. That means a lot of people will be uncomfortable in it, but any larger and it wouldn’t really be a 3-series, would it?

Hey 1487, I use my M3 to tow my 32' enclosed trailer and it is amazing! Way better than a CTS-V.

zcalvert@...the word you are looking for is obtuse.

The car is not for me but it is very far from a pile of crap.

BUT 1487 is correct about one thing.....The M had better perform like it does for what it costs. 70K is the absolute breaking point I think for the cost of a car.....even 60 is too much. No automobile is worth any more than that....Not any 750 or Fort GT or S-class......it just gets silly at that price level.

The M3 starts at $54K and change. $70K is with very heavy options, FYI.

"70K is the absolute breaking point I think for the cost of a car.....even 60 is too much. No automobile is worth any more than that....Not any 750 or Fort GT or S-class......it just gets silly at that price level."

If one can easily afford it, why is it silly? It's silly if you can't or have to stretch, yes. No one should have a car payment that's more than their rent or mortgage. And it's ridiculous to stretch to buy a $70K car when there are so very many great cars that cost substantially less. But I don't see why spending $100K on an S-Class is silly if you're pulling down 7 figures.

1487 -- the point isn't whether the rear is spacious or not; it is whether the rear seats WORK. And for many 3-series owners, the seats and space does work.
Bodyblue, whether a car is worth 60K or 70K or whatever is strictly your opinion. I can't afford that level yet, but I'm certain the people who can generally feel they're getting their money's worth, or they won't pay that kind of cash for something that doesn't please them.

And let's not forget that many (most) S-classes and 7-series(es) are in business lease, paid for with pre-tax money.
A $1000/mo lease for these is like average joe paying $550-600 for his car.