I am looking at getting a 2002-2003 M3 or M5. I am however a bigger guy, 6'2 350lb's or so. Can you give me some advice if for the most part the legroom and the dash space are adequate? I wanted to see here first before I go to the showroom for a test drive and it is awkward for all. Thanks for your time in advance!
Currently I drive a jeep wrangler so that should be a good measure of my current car.....
Moose!
Matt Warren - 30 Apr 2006 20:32 GMT
>"Domenic Fontana" <moosedom@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:X085g.1201>$g01.124@trnddc01...
>I am looking at getting a 2002-2003 M3 or M5. I am however a bigger guy,
6'2 350lb's or so. >Can you give me some advice if for the most part the
legroom and the dash space are adequate? >I wanted to see here first
before I go to the showroom for a test drive and it is awkward for all.
>Thanks for your time in advance!
>
>Currently I drive a jeep wrangler so that should be a good measure of my current car.....
>
>Moose!
Though I can't comment on which car would be better, I do find it
interesting that there is yet another Jeep owner buying a BMW... there seems
to be a lot of folks in here that either do or have owned jeeps... curious.
Good luck in you quest.
Matt
Floyd Rogers - 30 Apr 2006 22:11 GMT
Domenic Fontana" <moosedom@verizon.net> wrote
>I am looking at getting a 2002-2003 M3 or M5. I am however a bigger guy,
> 6'2 350lb's or so. Can you give me some advice if for the most part the
> legroom and the dash space are adequate? I wanted to see here first
> before I go to the showroom for a test drive and it is awkward for all.
The 5 series is significantly wider than the 3 - you would probably be
more comfortable in it. They also have a little more headroom. I have
one of the few 3's without a sunroof for that reason - and I'm only 6' even.
The main thing you might find most uncomfortable on both those cars
is the sport seats - the side bolsters might be too narrow for you.
FloydR
Enoch Root - 02 May 2006 05:55 GMT
> Domenic Fontana" <moosedom@verizon.net> wrote
>>I am looking at getting a 2002-2003 M3 or M5. I am however a bigger guy,
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> FloydR
Yes, don't get an M. Get a 5 or larger series. The M's difference
includes sports seats, sport(stiffer) suspension, and sport rated braking.
But hell man, if you got the coin- I'm sure you'll figure something out.
At 6'2 350lbs you will need the 5 series or larger in BMWland. No sport
anything. You can modify it later if you want sport suspension and the
like. I'm 6'4, and my head is pretty damn close to the ceiling on a 5
series. But, I'm not that wide. So the seat is comfortable. And my
suspension is comfortable. And my brakes are comfortable. If you are
going to the dealer, I'm sure you'll figure this all out on your own
accord.
I got the BMW because of my size as well. Low riding racing bucket seat
stiff suspension having wasn't my goal in getting a bimmer. But you have
other ideas.
Good luck. Same car, just one ain't gonna be as comfortable.
Dan Krueger - 03 May 2006 01:14 GMT
>>"Domenic Fontana" <moosedom@verizon.net> wrote in message
>
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
>
> Matt
I owned two Jeep Grand Cherokees (not at the same time) and now have two
BMW's. One car and one SUV.
Dan
Fred W - 07 May 2006 12:22 GMT
>>> "Domenic Fontana" <moosedom@verizon.net> wrote in message
>>
[quoted text clipped - 27 lines]
> I owned two Jeep Grand Cherokees (not at the same time) and now have two
> BMW's. One car and one SUV.
I've owned 2 Jeep Cherokees, and a Wrangler Sport (6 cylinder). My
first Cherokee was a stripper. 4 cylinder, 5 speed, power nothing, no
options at all except (curiously) a manually operated moon roof. That
was probably my best Jeep. Wish I still had it...
I've also owned an E30 ragtop, an E34 540iA, an E36/7 (Z3) and an E36
325i. Still have only the last one. The rest are all history... Great
cars each and every one (in their own unique ways)

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Floyd Rogers - 30 Apr 2006 23:48 GMT
"Domenic Fontana" <moosedom@verizon.net> wrote
Oh, yes, Domenic. Please don't post in html - newsgroups are text-only.
FloydR
Dean Dark - 01 May 2006 00:33 GMT
>"Domenic Fontana" <moosedom@verizon.net> wrote
>
>Oh, yes, Domenic. Please don't post in html - newsgroups are text-only.
If he replies, I'll bet he top posts in HTML. You'll love it.

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Dan.
Frank Kemper - 02 May 2006 11:48 GMT
"Domenic Fontana" <moosedom@verizon.net> haute in die Tasten:
> Can you give me some advice if for the most part the legroom and
> the dash space are adequate?
Being tall is not the whole story. There are tall guys like me who
have very long legs, others have shorter legs, while the upper part
of the body is longer. I have test driven both E39 (five series) and
E46 (3 series) and did not find neither of them very roomy. In former
times it was possible to get longer seat rails to push back the
drivers seat. A good seat maker can even take the seat apart and make
it one inch lower or so. You should definitely look after a car
without sunroof, because this leaves you more headroom. A smaller
sports steering wheel amy also give you more room for your knees.
As a rule of thumb I'd also say: Mercedes offers more space than
BMW;-)
Frank

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Enoch Root - 02 May 2006 12:47 GMT
> "Domenic Fontana" <moosedom@verizon.net> haute in die Tasten:
>
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>
> Frank
Yep, I'd agree with that.
There are some seat customizations that can be done as you said. But it's
a pain and by no means standard operating procedure. I wish I could have
a car with tons of headroom that didn't look like a bubble or SUV.
Germans are pretty big guys. It's kind of odd to have this problem in
their flagship cars.
Dori A Schmetterling - 02 May 2006 13:25 GMT
Not as big as the Dutch... ;-)
I have to crick my neck in NL more than in Germany...
Still, the question is valid since Mercs are widespread in The Netherlands.
But maybe the guys in GB (second-biggest market in Europe for Mercs) bring
the average size down slighly.
DAS
The Shortie

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---
[...]
Germans are pretty big guys. It's kind of odd to have this problem in
> their flagship cars.
RT - 03 May 2006 06:54 GMT
>> "Domenic Fontana" <moosedom@verizon.net> haute in die Tasten:
>>
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
>Germans are pretty big guys. It's kind of odd to have this problem in
>their flagship cars.
I don't think there is a problem. I am 6-4 tall and about #230 and
have absolutely no problems in the M3, with sunroof even. The seats
not being wide enough has nothing to do with tall people.
Dan Krueger - 03 May 2006 01:18 GMT
> I am looking at getting a 2002-2003 M3 or M5. I am however a bigger
> guy, 6'2 350lb's or so. Can you give me some advice if for the most
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> Moose!
I'm 6'4" and 220 and have had a 330i for a few years without a problem.
The 5 series should be fine for you if my X5 seats are any indication.
Go to the dealer and sit in a few cars. The test drive will come later
when you have an idea if it will work for you.
Dan
Fred W - 07 May 2006 13:23 GMT
> I am looking at getting a 2002-2003 M3 or M5. I am however a bigger
> guy, 6'2 350lb's or so. Can you give me some advice if for the most
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> Moose!
Moose,
Not sure you'll ever come back to read this, but you might want to
consider a non-M model. The sport seats tend to have raised bolsters
that are not intended for someone of your, erm... magnitude. The
comfort seats on the other hand are much flatter and more, well...
comfortable.
Check it out yourself at a dealership.

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