The BMW E90 is the Best 3-Series

Offering my thoughts on why the E90 could be the best 3-Series lineup BMW has ever made. This is obviously very subjective and dependent on how you even define "best". In this video I narrow the focus onto the lineup itself and how the choice the E90 provided was never and will never be matched.

[@JeffFadness]

The pre-facelift 325/328/330 E90 is my favorite. I think you have to own and drive one to really appreciate it. Not fast, minimal interior options, but simple and smooth as butter. They just feel quality.

[@Arrozconchopsticks]

Got one about a month ago. I enjoy it.

[@k12rising]

How are they not fast? 330i 0-60, quarter mile, specs 0-60 mph 5.8 seconds is definitely fast...

[@robertonunez1085]

Love my e90 330i, smooth , powerful and reliable N52 b30 engine!!!

[@danilosvq]

330 and 335 are fast.

[@CRSwift]

I think youre abit to biased. The lci facelift msports is the best onre

[@georgemorley1029]

Put it this way; I’m going on a business trip tomorrow morning and I’m looking forward to the drive in my e90. I’ve owned it for 12 years already. That’s the mark of a great car.

[@pascutia]

I agree. Another thing I like about these over the E46 is the interior materials and sound insulation. My favorite BMW is the E39 with an I6. More simple and easier to maintain than an E90, but a much nicer car than the E46 with 90% of the nimbleness the E46 has if you get an I6 model.

[@BuzzytheBlue]

I’ve never driven an I6 E39 but I’ve only ever heard good things. I’ve only driven the V8 E39s with the recirculating ball steering racks. With rack and pinion it must be a blast.

[@Kneeanderthal]

Really well presented ,, great video

[@Tjonfranco]

Loved this vid! Can you do the best 5 series next😭

[@BuzzytheBlue]

You got it! That's an even tougher one.

[@teos9136]

My favorite of the bunch is E46 and E90, and between the two, it would be E90. It's very close call for sure. Subscribed.

[@hater8812]

is e90 stock more fun to drive than e46?

[@wg8290]

Your channel is awesome! I hope you make more frequent videos.

[@tristengallagher3795]

Love the video man I going to have to subscribe

[@stevensims3342]

The E9X platform is such a great one. These cars, if maintained well will retain high resale value in the future. Mark my words.

[@MisoElEven]

Really nice.. watched your older video about the E39 M5 and it seemed like you didnt know what to do with your hands, it seemed tense like youre thinking about it in the background of talking. Great to see you solved this over the years :D

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Thank you! Ha! I’ve gone back and seen those early videos and I agree… that one in particular I had to cut after almost every sentence or two to get primed on what to say next 😂 Made it feel very stilted in hindsight.

[@TripleShineFoundation]

Recently inherited an E90....4 cylinder 320i 2011.. Lots of work to be done on it! It's a head turner on the look... Very executive and comfortable inside and out... Just having problems with its misfires and gearbox issues because it's old... Im fixing it little by little and an enjoying it... 😊...

[@austinnafziger4159]

Ive got a E93 335i and have to say that the car is an absolute blast for what was my commuter car (I don't have to commute anymore). Loads of power, good looks and a very comfortable interior. I think the tech even holds up well, especially when you add CarPlay support to it. I do long for a more analog experience though, and am probably going to try and find a Z4 M Coupe for my next car. I miss the Z4 platform (had an 03 3.0 roadster before the 335).

[@123456789a413ify]

When I had my E90 335i XDrive it was the perfect companion for my Z4M roadster. Mine was Sapphire black over saddle brown, miss that car.

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Also, how did you go about adding CarPlay support? My 2011 had the full iDrive setup, seems like it'd be pretty involved to replace.

[@austinnafziger4159]

@@123456789a413ify I'm going all in! Plus I only need one car at a time. Might also "update" the interior a bit with extra parts so I don't ruin the stock interior.

[@SK-vg3mw]

Purchased my first bmw 6 months ago, e90 320d se. Absolutely amazing car! Exceeded all of my expectations! 120k miles on clock, never had any issues, very reliable, economic (40+ mpg in city), cheap and easy to service, and still very fun to drive!

[@maciej_zieba]

Hows it like still?

[@SK-vg3mw]

@@maciej_zieba Still struggling to find a good excuse for upgrading!

[@maciej_zieba]

@@SK-vg3mw I'm stuck between this and a 1.9TDI Golf MK3 or MK4. Had am F30 but finance plus insurance was a bit heavy on the budget. Want to mess with the car a bit but when on finance I don't want to "mess it up"

[@iamneo1690]

​@@maciej_ziebaI bought an e90 after downgrading a few months ago. I made the correct decision it's a great car.

[@user-dp1sw7bu4s]

I have a BMW E90 as a family car and is the most reliable car i ever had..

[@mahdimechlih493]

which model? 328i? 335i?

[@ianmcgrath8044]

Die hard n55 guy myself have had 435xi (f32) and now I have a e90 335xi… I like the e90 just has much other than the 4 doors. Love the steering on the e90

[@damientjeh]

Bought a e91 325 for daily use. I came from a renault clio the bmw just wants me to drive a lot. Its so comfortable

[@BossDM-2]

He is absolutely right. I have an 08 e90 manual rwd. Great great car. Also have 11 e92 auto xdrive. Not as fun, but still a BMW as it should be, not like the newer ones.

[@Jollygreengeocentric]

Proud owner of an e90 335d sport package LCI. The car is an in rebel sleeper. Keeps up with stock m3.

[@GGLiEx]

i own an e82 manual N52 based on the e9xs i have to say its bloody great. I never appreciated the e8x and e9x (except for the m3 which i always adored). i always found them to give off a cheap flair. now in the giant grill electronic everything era i start to appreciate this generation of cars. in terms of design they are. well. timeless! especially the lci models are gorgeous. even the e90 which i used to shit on starts to look appealing. this generation is perfect. modern but old school at the same time. bluetooth vonnectivity and bixenons with led lighting but the analog feel of a straight six non turbo.

[@KAS470]

I think the e9x m3 is the best m3 and the last generation before they became too numb feeling and soul-less. The 335i and 135i are amazing cars as well that still have a raw experience as long as it’s matted with a manual transmission. E30 and e36 are by far my favorite 3 series chassis though. Can’t beat the classics, at least in the styling and vibe department.

[@BuzzytheBlue]

The E30 is always going to be the first one I walk to at the car show.

[@KAS470]

@@BuzzytheBlue e30 is such a timeless car. BMW had some amazing looking cars back in the 80s and 90s.

[@123456789a413ify]

@@KAS470 in terms of 90s BMWs the E34 5-Series is possibly my favorite looking BMW ever. Would love to own an E34 M5.

[@KAS470]

@@123456789a413ify man I love e34’s. I want a manual 540i. The sound of a v8 seems very suiting to the way they look.

[@DA_BEEEEEAAAAAAMS]

Proud 323i M-sport owner

[@mastwinch]

Great channel.

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Thank you!

[@BuzzytheBlue]

What do you think is the best generation of 3-Series and why? This is obviously a subjective discussion so try to be nice to each other. Or don't, it's KZbin after all 😏

[@samobalco5744]

in my opinion it is the e46 (not because I own one 325ci eu version) but because it literally is the best car I have ever sat in, its just raw and feels amazing, and the power is plenty. For me its just the perfect blend of all the things I want from a car. And unlike e90 its simple to work on and has much lower maintenance costs (I am a UNI student so that's rather important for me aswell) Overall I cant say negative things about the e90 but at the end of the day it comes to personal taste and the feel you get from the car. You have to find a car that will make you smile every time you drive it and look at it. And I have found that in my e46

[@123456789a413ify]

@@samobalco5744 Agreed, that’s what it’s all about. Cant go wrong with either, just comes down to which suits you better. E46s are surprisingly simple to work on, I was able to do most things myself. The E90…. Not so much haha.

[@moonphase7105]

@@samobalco5744 E90 is so much better than E46. In terms of everything, literary.

[@moonphase7105]

To me E90 is simply the best. Better than E46 for sure. Above all E90 has sportier appearance, front wings are much sportier, “hips” far more pronounced lines, somehow more precise and detailed engineering. Therefore far greater torzion rigidity, better aerodynamic drag coefficient, more advanced engines, more comfortable car, more spacious, even more precise steering, firmer experience of the car as a whole, much better chassis, better lying on the road, etc.

[@driven01]

I recently inherited an E90 ... love the car. The more I learn about it, the more I love it. For giggles and grins, I went to look at what's replaced it in the modern line-up. I'm underwhelmed. Lots of 4-cyl turbo charged engines. :-( I mean, they are fine, but the solid, endurance proven I-6 is gone?

[@sirwellingtonthethird687]

Innovation is a bitch

[@MybeautifulandamazingPrincess]

Apparently the M340i/d is the only G20 with i-6. And probably the last BMWs to have them ... Who's fault is this? The fkn EU according to BMW, with their emissions 🐂. And there are politicians in Germany shilling heavily for EVs and they even want to ban non ev cars from the road :/

[@bradcomis1066]

B58 is the new 6 cylinder. 340i and other 40i series vehicles have this engine and it is a beast. 90% of the new generation stuff on the road is 4-cyl though. Those 4 cylinder cars are pretty quick for what they are and they get amazingly good fuel economy, but its just not the same as a 6-cyl. The biggest problem on the newer car is the electric power steering that gives absolutely nothing back to the driver.

[@jonsmith1162]

Awesome peace lily by the way.

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Ha thanks man! Gift from my grandmother.

[@jonsmith1162]

@@BuzzytheBlue Have a couple myself. Awesome things. Great channel BTW.

[@mammerf]

I have e90 330i it’s just awesome

[@ThomasWhatever]

Wait, the 325i was/is your entry level option? We got the market littered with 316i and 318i models and loads of boring diesel variants. It was hard even finding a 6 cylinder here in Austria as the taxes on horsepower are abnormal here.

[@ThomasWhatever]

Goid thing in Europe is: The majority of cars is manual transmission. However the langer engines are often ordered with automatic, so you have a limited market with more powerful cars. Powerful in Europe means anything above 150 to 200 HP. Most cars here are arpund 90 to 150 HP ;_; my 330i E90 is considered very powerful.

[@angus7278]

In Canada we also had the 323i. I know because I bought a 2011 with the six speed manual and 200 hp new, and happily I still have it!

[@1240enzo]

The only thing mate is that the bottom of the E90 range is not the 325 but actually the 320 with a range from 1.6-2.0 4cyl, and thereafter 2.0 6cyl, then the 323 with the 2.5 Cyl and thereafter the 325,328 and 330 etc models.

[@BuzzytheBlue]

My bad I should’ve specified I was only referencing the North American model line, we didn’t get the smaller engine configurations here.

[@1240enzo]

@@BuzzytheBlue I did kind of figure this 😁. I have owned my ‘06 E90 323i for nearly 7 years. I just have gone through the very expensive process of replacing the engine. Sadly mine died at around 230,000km. The new engine only has about 130,000 km. In many ways it really didn’t make economic sense to do this, but I really couldn’t bring myself to send the car off to the wreckers and perhaps get $500 for it. So instead I spent a bit over $10k. !! ouch 😂. Oh well, next some more $$ to get the paintwork into top condition. It’s only money 🤣. I actually really enjoy driving this car so hence am willing to spend the money. I am possibly mad but so what. I do like the E46 series and nearly bought one. If I were to get one, my pick would be the 330Ci convertible or coupe. The E46 M3 to me is the best of the 3 series M cars but are way out of my budget.

[@01123581321341]

@@1240enzo$10k for a new engine - holy smokes!

[@angus7278]

@@BuzzytheBlue I bought a 2011 323i new, with the 6 spd manual and 200 hp which I still have with less than 60,000 kms on it. I believe they were sold in Canada, but not the USA. Anyway, a beautiful sedan in deep sea blue, very reliable, and always fun to drive.

[@alexng704]

There is one area the e46 definitely beats the e90, the look. Yes, it's subjective but I think most people would agree with me.

[@tamasnemeth4891]

I have an e91 320d getting close to 400k km, the car itself doesnt age nicely especially the interior, although you cant hear a single rattling noise or anything. The transmission feels really good, the engine is more than adequate for what it is (gets me about 7l comb.) but my favorite part is the suspension. Roads are shit here and the car doesnt hide that but when you get to a twisty mountain road its just amazing.

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Wish we got more of the diesels here in the States, especially back in the E46 days. We were lucky to have gotten the E90 335d though.

[@MybeautifulandamazingPrincess]

The car doesn't age nicely? Well if you actually take care of it it does age nicely

[@jonsmith1162]

Just picked up an '05 330i with 85k on the clock. Previously had an E34, E36, E46, 2x E81 and a 320d E91. I just don't get the appeal of the F and G BMWs.

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Nice choice, an E90 330i is such a nice balance of modern tech and old school BMW attributes.

[@egotbands2145]

I bought this car at a steal! But I accidentally jump started the car directly from the battery I hope I didn’t ruin the electronics I didn’t know you weren’t supposed to 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@BuzzytheBlue]

They can definitely be finicky electronically. If you haven’t noticed any issues since then though it’s probably fine.

[@DCAKAJ]

and then there's me, 335d :)

[@georgecalistruofficial]

M3, 3 Series, M3 CS, M3 Competition is a real M3 from year 2018 or 2019 to 2023/2024. Yes, the new is expensive dar offer more safety features and confort and tech.

[@nikolakarovic5964]

On the bottom of the line we have 320d, on the top 335d .

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Yeah the model lineup in the US is way more limited, it’s unfortunate.

[@Edwin-km4xk]

The e90 is the most diverse 3 series engine wise. Same for the European 4 cylinder models also. The G20 is the complete opposite

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Yeah there was even more variety in Europe. Diesels and 4 cylinders that we never got over here.

[@Edwin-km4xk]

@@BuzzytheBlue Exactly bro. Actually the 4 cylinder version that I drive has only been sold in Europe and not in other countries (where they do sell the 4 cylinder models so definitely not the USA) because of the levels of sulfur in the fuel used lol

[@gregdepot]

E9X gauge cluster kills me, my E46 M3 I think has the best gauge cluster ive seen.

[@Tony-do9jf]

🤩 Promo`SM!!!

[@nattadam4171]

E46 best ever period.

[@BuzzytheBlue]

They’re great too. Have had a couple.

[@nattadam4171]

@BuzzytheBlue A little biased on the E46. Never owned an E90, but I have worked on one. I also own an E61. Maintenance purposes the E46 is better. I've had it for 9 years.

[@BuzzytheBlue]

@@nattadam4171 100% agree, the E46 is way easier to work on. I like daily driving my E90 a bit more but am definitely more afraid of it breaking lol!

[@Lester.M]

Nah, I’m good bro. E46.

[@BuzzytheBlue]

I’ve had two, it’s a good move

[@BeefyMon]

I never had much love for the awkward discordant angles of the E9X generation’s design. History has proven the E46 to be a lasting design-even a "classic". It’s fairly safe to say there’s little passion for the E90’s design in hindsight. It’s been 10+ years since the last E90, yet the E46 (and earlier) generations continue to be the benchmark they always were. In terms of performance, you may have a point- but it’s also when things got ridiculously complicated. Also, there was never an E46 M3 sedan, which is a mark against that generation, tho the ZHP filled the gap nicely (I should know).

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Absolutely agree in terms of design and complexity. Having owned examples of both, the E46 is pretty easy to upkeep yourself while the E90s can be daunting. The E90 definitely marked the end of the slick mechanical simplicity, but at least all that complexity was used to make a range of interesting cars. Whereas today....