fit and finish is different from how hard the plastics are :-)

 

Since these are pre-production cars...

 

LOL...this is the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen.

 

Can we just end thread now lol

 

Yeah, so is the abundance of cheap plastic. Doesn't make it good.

 

As compared to the 3 series interior?

Trust me, I sat in the 3 series and test-drove it. IN NO WAY SHAPE OR FORM is the 3 series interior upmarket. From the photos, the new IS interior is already a mile ahead of the 3 series that you love so much

You may prefer the 335i for its torque and tunability I'll give you that. But let's not get carried away here. Interior is not one of the 3 series strong suits. So for you to slam the new IS interior as plasticky but at the same time consider the 3 series seriously as an alternative is selective vision at its best.

 

It never has. Ever sit in a 2006 325i or 2008 528i? Suffice to say it's bad.

 

I've sat in a 3 series many times. While the styling isn't for everyone, the quality of materials used is still good whereas many parts of the 3IS looks like a downgrade in quality.

 

There is only one thing I hate about this car now and that's the fuglyyyyy steering wheel. Looks like a fat circle and out of place.

 

F30 probably and easily worst materials ever in its class... and poor build quality too.

 

Agreed. It's taken a turn for the worse compared to the previous generation E90.

 

I wonder if the 2nd gen steering wheel would fit on the 3rd gen IS?
I agree, I would they had made the steering wheel to look more sporty and less jagged.

 

You cannot tell whether the materials are good or bad until you sit in the vehicle for yourself, but you and I have been through that before.

All the reviews are positive about the materials, so I look forward to sitting in one.

 

I sat in the "mule" IS 350 (non F-sport) they are floating around florida today. My feelings were similar to the OP's, minus the rattle concern. The interior quality is lackluster at best. The steering wheel both looks and feels cheap. The base IS 350 gauges look like something from 2002, still; minus the small center LCD.

The "painted" appearance that the door switch panels have (if you call it that) is absolutely awful. THe center console/stack where the stereo is also looks and feels cheap. It now has two cupholders, and one useless storage bin. This trades us from 1.5 cupholders and a usable storage bin.

I asked if the vehicle I was looking at was likely to mimic the production quality and no one could give me answers, but the general assumption was "yes, it is production quality".

Not only is the car a step backwards in look, it's a step backwards in quality, in my opinion. Disappointed.

 

I would be disappointed too if I didn't know it was a mule or a prototype.