The Dealer lots in my area are filled with E46 Cabs, I am going to see what I can get one for. I have had an E90 loaner for a couple days and my impression is mixed. Handling is a 10, exterior look is a 7, and interior function (this one has idrive) is a 3.

The E46 is by far a better car from the interior standpoint, here is why

The E90 window switch placement is lame, you have to lean forward to use them, the dash has everything squished between the 2 main gauges for no reason that I can understand. The gauge font is boring and the 2 main gauges are very uninspired.

The dual climate controls are easy to use but again they have packed all the buttons in the middle of the 2 control knobs making them hard to access and see from some angles. The dash rolls away on the passenger side so you can’t see the entire control face either. The steering wheel is very comfortable but is also very uninspired in it’s design.

The Turn signal has to be the most annoying system I have attempted to use. The arm does not stay when you move it up or down so if you are going to change lanes and accidentally click it on the only way I can figure out to stop the turn signal is to click the opposite way and that activates the other turn signal for a second or so.

Cup holders are a joke, again for the driver to use it you will need to reach for it and if you spill even a drop of your coffee it’s right above the passenger side carpet. They are those stupid fold up things that have been breaking of the 5 ser since 97, but BMW decided to use them anyway.

iDrive is hopeless, I am sure you could get use to it but a car needs to function like an iPod, no instructions needed. If you need to read the manual to understand how a system works, the system is a failure IMHO.

The outside mirrors may look nice but the shape cuts out the top of the outside corner and makes the viewable area much smaller than previous BMW’s.

The Door handles stick out inside in some odd wave look.