[FieldingMellish]

(I posted this as a comment in another thread, but thought I'd raise it again to canvass more opinions.)

Is there any difference in ride or handling between an M Sport saloon and an M Sport coupe?

The only time I drove a coupe (a 320i M SPort with, I think, 18 inch wheels), I found the ride a bit 'crashy'.

Should there be any difference to the ride, between a coupe and a saloon?

[Samoht]

Yes. SALOON FTW.

My e92 handles like a boat compared to the sedan. I drive past this stretch of road with that ultimately leds to a tight 's' turn near my house. And during the first month that i owned the e92 I struggle to engage that turn and road with the ease and poise of the saloon. Ultimtaly i crashed.... maybe a lack of experience getting used to the car. but nevertheless, i dont handle as well.

[RagingKileak]

Hi mate,

The theory has always been (back to E36 days) that the 3 Series Saloon handles better. This was apparently because of a stiffening beam across the Saloon that the Coupe lacks, beneath the seats.

It was kind of proven back then because the Saloon seats wouldn't fold down and coupe's would (or vice versa) because said beam wouldn't allow it due to how the seat was placed etc.

I'm not sure if this still applies to the E9X. I do find the Coupe crashier though....

Matt

[zltm089]

Coupe handles better!!! :-) ....and it looks better!

[CarAbuser]

I'm not sure if it's true but I heard the coupé had a longer wheelbase than the sedan, also slightly wider footprint.

The quoted stats say it's 0.1s faster to 60 so I would assume it's lighter also.

[xenon]

I think you'd be hard pushed to tell any difference if the two vehicles had the same suspension / wheels / tyres. As long as you avoid the combination of 19", M-Sport suspension and RFTs you'll be OK.

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by xenon

I think you'd be hard pushed to tell any difference if the two vehicles had the same suspension / wheels / tyres. As long as you avoid the combination of 19", M-Sport suspension and RFTs you'll be OK.

Agree with Ian, A few years ago I owned a 320d coupe and drove the companies 320d saloon, both M Sport although the saloon was on 17's and mine was 18's at first. I couldn't tell any real differences.

[FieldingMellish]

Hmm so the 19 inch wheels are to be avoided, and not just because they crack?

[dxb335d]

Saloon is slightly lighter, and will also be stiffer. Funny how they used the Saloon for the Euro NCAP which faired real well. Don't think the coupe would do quite as well.

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by FieldingMellish

Hmm so the 19 inch wheels are to be avoided, and not just because they crack?

19's are fine, just get rid of the run flats.

[FieldingMellish]

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

19's are fine, just get rid of the run flats.

No chance of doing that right away. Better stick with the 18 inchers.

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by FieldingMellish

No chance of doing that right away. Better stick with the 18 inchers.

I went for 18's to 19's on my 320d coupe and really didn't notice too much difference, both were hard.

[xenon]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

Saloon is slightly lighter, and will also be stiffer. Funny how they used the Saloon for the Euro NCAP which faired real well. Don't think the coupe would do quite as well.

Given the fact that the saloon has two extra doors (along with windows, locks etc) I'm amazed if it's lighter or stiffer.

EDIT - it isn't. 320i SE Saloon = 1445kg, 320i SE Coupe = 1430Kg

[dxb335d]

Well thats the first ive seen, but actually Ive never looked into 320's.

With the 335 the saloon is lighter.

The saloon is much stiffer, hence why That shell was used for touring cars.

It had a pillar down the middle, hence stiffer, and stronger. The E92 does not have this.

[kaishang]

Originally Posted by FieldingMellish

Hmm so the 19 inch wheels are to be avoided, and not just because they crack?

17 inch = more comfort and more speed on non-perfect roads.

[xenon]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

Well thats the first ive seen, but actually Ive never looked into 320's.

With the 335 the saloon is lighter.

The saloon is much stiffer, hence why That shell was used for touring cars.

It had a pillar down the middle, hence stiffer, and stronger. The E92 does not have this.

Still not according to BMW.

335d saloon = 1655Kg, 335d coupe = 1645Kg. Whether the saloon shell is stiffer I don't know but one could see how it probably would be.

[FieldingMellish]

Originally Posted by kaishang

17 inch = more comfort and more speed on non-perfect roads.

Yes but they look a bit 'wrong', the 17 inches, don't they. The E90 needs reasonably big wheels to look good. Plus the vast majority of 330i coupes and saloons I've seen have 18 inch wheels.

I have the M Sport 18 inch wheels on my 320d M Sport saloon, and the ride is a bit hard of course, with the runflats, but it doesn't bother me much and the handling is fantastic.

[xenon]

I agree and I think you've answered your own question, FM! I really don't think you'd notice a difference simply between saloon and coupe.

[FieldingMellish]

Originally Posted by xenon

I agree and I think you've answered your own question, FM! I really don't think you'd notice a difference simply between saloon and coupe.

Well, that's logical. But when I was test-driving a few years back, I drove loads of 318i saloons and 320i or 320d saloons, most of which had the 18 inch wheels I now have on them. When I tried a coupe, which I *think* had the 18 inch wheels on it, the ride felt very noticeably different, somehow 'crashy'. Maybe it had 19 inch wheels though, hard to be sure. FWIW, I emailed that dealer later to check, and he said he thought that coupe did have 18 wheels on it, but I can't be certain.

[creepy coupe]

IMO the coupe is a nicer car, with it's interior surround lighting, extra door storage, standard Xenon’s,frameless windows.

[xenon]

Originally Posted by FieldingMellish

Well, that's logical. But when I was test-driving a few years back, I drove loads of 318i saloons and 320i or 320d saloons, most of which had the 18 inch wheels I now have on them. When I tried a coupe, which I *think* had the 18 inch wheels on it, the ride felt very noticeably different, somehow 'crashy'. Maybe it had 19 inch wheels though, hard to be sure. FWIW, I emailed that dealer later to check, and he said he thought that coupe did have 18 wheels on it, but I can't be certain.

Interesting. Perhaps it did have 19" or worse tyres or M-Sport (and the other wasn't)

What I can tell you unequivocally is that the ride on my M-Sport coupe with 19" wheels and Bridgestone RFTs is dreadful. Really dreadful.

[FieldingMellish]

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

IMO the coupe is a nicer car, with it's interior surround lighting, extra door storage, standard Xenon’s,frameless windows.

Without a doubt, yeah. I just wonder if it's worth the extra. I'm looking to trade up to a 330i auto, from a manual 320d M Sport saloon, so I must pay some extra for each of: auto, 330i, coupe. I know I would miss the M Sport if I bought an SE coupe, and I don't want to spend a massive amount and get a post-LCI saloon, which would be the other option.

I need to test drive a saloon and a coupe back to back, I guess.