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2019+ BMW 3 AND 4-SERIES FORUMS (G2x Generation) General G20 Sedan / G22 Coupe / G26 Gran Coupe Discussions Is the bottom section of the door card made from hard plastic?

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      03-11-2019, 05:16 PM   #23
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mii View Post
4:04 and 25:46 - Based on how reviewer touches the door panel trims below armrest, it seemed to be soft touch plastic instead of hard plastic?

I agree with your assessment. He seems to be commenting on how the material has some “give” under his fingernail. It also looks like soft touch plastic. I noticed when he touched the front door and then reached into the interior cubby that he scratched that with his fingernail and it had that hard plastic sound on the interior plastic.

Any Russian speakers here who can translate what he is saying?
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      03-11-2019, 05:49 PM   #24
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tturedraider View Post
Any Russian speakers here who can translate what he is saying?

I'm not Russian, but I'm slavic so I can clearly understand he is saying that lower part of door trim is soft plastic. Inside liner of door bin is hard plastic on the far side and felt on the near side.
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      03-11-2019, 06:41 PM   #25
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nick776 View Post
Can anyone confirm that a US spec car has the hard plastic. It is NOT an area you hardly see, it is comprised of most of the surface area of the door. Basically, the arm rest and above is leather and all below is hard plastic. It's not a minor issue, I can assure you. If it were a Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, etc. then it may be an acceptable material. However, not in a car that STARTS at 40k.

No 3-series in the past has EVER had the hard plastic doors. I am exceedingly disappointed in this.
My E30 does
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      03-12-2019, 08:33 AM   #26
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tturedraider View Post
I agree with your assessment. He seems to be commenting on how the material has some “give” under his fingernail. It also looks like soft touch plastic. I noticed when he touched the front door and then reached into the interior cubby that he scratched that with his fingernail and it had that hard plastic sound on the interior plastic.

Any Russian speakers here who can translate what he is saying?
He's saying the bottom is not as soft like the rest but pressing with a fingernail feels kinda soft.
I do agree with his remark regarding a lack of the accent/trim on the door panel between two colors of the panel, looks too simple.
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      03-12-2019, 08:38 AM   #27
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Have driven a G20 M Sport package here. It was soft touch in the bottom of the door
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      03-12-2019, 08:31 PM   #28
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This is funny. The bottom of the F30 doors (US) is either a really-hard soft-touch plastic; or a really-soft hard plastic. ��

What we can probably all agree on is that the bottom of F30 doors (US) is definitely not Sensatec.
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      03-12-2019, 08:37 PM   #29
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Quote:
Originally Posted by glennQNYC View Post

What we can probably all agree on is that the bottom of F30 doors (US) is definitely not Sensatec.
Not sure what you mean. It may or may not be Sensatec, but it is unquestionably a soft touch material and not hard for plastic as the 2er has.
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      03-12-2019, 08:41 PM   #30
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tturedraider View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by glennQNYC View Post

What we can probably all agree on is that the bottom of F30 doors (US) is definitely not Sensatec.
Not sure what you mean. It may or may not be Sensatec, but it is unquestionably a soft touch material and not hard for plastic as the 2er has.
Allow me to elaborate...

The bottom of the doors definitely wasn't wrapped and stitched with Sensatec. The bottom of the F30 doors is molded plastic with a padding for a soft touch (IMO) and simulated leather texture.

Sensatec is a material on a roll, that is stitched. It's just synthetic instead of an animal hide.
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      03-12-2019, 09:07 PM   #31
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Quote:
Originally Posted by glennQNYC View Post
Allow me to elaborate...

The bottom of the doors definitely wasn't wrapped and stitched with Sensatec. The bottom of the F30 doors is molded plastic with a padding for a soft touch (IMO) and simulated leather texture.

Sensatec is a material on a roll, that is stitched. It's just synthetic instead of an animal hide.
Got it. Thanks for the clarification.
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      03-13-2019, 01:17 PM   #32
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Quote:
Originally Posted by glennQNYC View Post
This is funny. The bottom of the F30 doors (US) is either a really-hard soft-touch plastic; or a really-soft hard plastic.
I have to say I think that's right on point for the G20 as well.

It's not nearly as squishy as eg. soft-touch dashboards, but still feels like a softer high quality plastic and not one that you could use to file your nails. (wtf am I saying )
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      03-14-2019, 12:31 AM   #33
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the main difference between soft and hard plastic is the ability to resist scratches. that is the reason to avoid hard plastic in the bottom of doors.
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      03-14-2019, 02:33 AM   #34
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I'm more shocked that owners/test drivers have conflicting accounts of the material. How hard is it to determine if it's hard or soft plastic?
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      03-14-2019, 10:43 AM   #35
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Quote:
Originally Posted by upsidedownfunnel View Post
I'm more shocked that owners/test drivers have conflicting accounts of the material. How hard is it to determine if it's hard or soft plastic?
Fits with the varied opinions we are also reading. Some see the G20 as moving up market with better overall quality, others see the G20 as evidence of more BMW cost cutting.

No wonder BMW can't please everyone. I guess we have to make a personal judgement... nothing has really changed, has it?
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      03-14-2019, 11:13 AM   #36
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HighlandPete View Post
Fits with the varied opinions we are also reading. Some see the G20 as moving up market with better overall quality, others see the G20 as evidence of more BMW cost cutting.

No wonder BMW can't please everyone. I guess we have to make a personal judgement... nothing has really changed, has it?
That's true. You'd think BMW were taking everyone's first born based on their reactions to the G20 styling. I guess it happens in every new generation then when they all get used to the styling, they forget about it until the next new gen 3 series.
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      03-14-2019, 03:57 PM   #37
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Quote:
Originally Posted by upsidedownfunnel View Post
My right leg rests up against the center console a lot. They should at least make that part soft touch, especially for more spirited driving. One side benefit of this cheapening is that the plastic is probably lighter.

There is definitely a difference in appearance, though. Hard plastic shows scratches much more easily.
I currently have a G20 330i loaner while my F80 M3 is being worked on and this is the biggest issue I am having. The area of the center console where I rest my leg is very hard plastic and I was uncomfortable after just a few minutes of driving. The M3 has a leather pad in that area which helps, but I don't remember the console being so hard in my F30 335.

I was seriously considering getting a M340i, but this will probably push me off. Hell, even the Tesla model 3 is better in this respect.
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      03-14-2019, 04:26 PM   #38
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nick776 View Post
I saw briefly in a review video that the reviewer mentioned that the bottom part of the interior doors below the armrests are now hard plastic. In the past, every single 3 series has always had soft Sensatec covered bottoms. Can anyone in the US verify if the doors are hard plastic on the bottom or are they upholstered with Sensatec, as has been the case in the past.

I certainly HOPE BMW has not cheeped-out and decided to put in ugly, hard plastic on the bottom of the doors. I may refuse my order if that is the case. That is inexcusable in a car that I'm paying ~54k for.
The bottom part of the doors on the G20 is the same material that has give to it having a softer feel touch than hard plastics. It's the same material on the 8-series.
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      03-14-2019, 04:45 PM   #39
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Quote:
Originally Posted by achopra View Post
I currently have a G20 330i loaner while my F80 M3 is being worked on and this is the biggest issue I am having. The area of the center console where I rest my leg is very hard plastic and I was uncomfortable after just a few minutes of driving. The M3 has a leather pad in that area which helps, but I don't remember the console being so hard in my F30 335.

I was seriously considering getting a M340i, but this will probably push me off. Hell, even the Tesla model 3 is better in this respect.
The console was just as hard on your F30.
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      03-15-2019, 11:24 AM   #40
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Today I had the second test drive with G20 and inspected both front and back doors. The lower part is definitely a harder plastic. The E90 door card had softer material in that area.

Anyhow not a deal breaker for me, I will order a 330i Sport Line soon.
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      03-15-2019, 01:29 PM   #41
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cangenBMW View Post
Just checked a G20 in my showroom. The lower door cards are a harder plastic but it's not offensively hard. Not squishy like the F30 lower door cards (the door pocket is also not carpet-lined like it is on F30)

The centre console sides are also hard plastic, but I think this is pretty standard for this class and was the same on F30. The places you DO actually touch are much nicer than F30 though and you can tell thought was put into this interior.
Audi A4 and the new Volvo S60 both have soft touch on the lower door panel. I'm not sure about the C-Class but the GLC has it in that area so I'd assume so. BMW cheaped out but it's not the end of the world I guess.
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      03-15-2019, 04:49 PM   #42
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C class is soft on the bottom of all 4 doors, but GLC has hard plastic on the rear doors only. However GLC has soft padding with leather stiching for the drivers right knee and passenger left knee. Seems to be a compromise for the rear door.
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      03-15-2019, 08:11 PM   #43
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This is very disappointing that it has now been verified to be hard plastic. I may very well refuse my G20. Something about paying over 50k for a car with plastic of the hard and cheap kind on the bottoms of the doors sickens me. BMW should realize that other competitors out there can just as well take my money if they offer better quality. If BMW were charging Toyota Camry prices, I can see the logic. That they are charing a premium demands more, though.

I saw someone else mention in another thread that the plastic around the radio controls is also of the hard and cheap variety. Is it the same as what is on the bottom of the door?
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      03-15-2019, 08:41 PM   #44
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nick776 View Post
This is very disappointing that it has now been verified to be hard plastic. I may very well refuse my G20. Something about paying over 50k for a car with plastic of the hard and cheap kind on the bottoms of the doors sickens me. BMW should realize that other competitors out there can just as well take my money if they offer better quality. If BMW were charging Toyota Camry prices, I can see the logic. That they are charing a premium demands more, though.

I saw someone else mention in another thread that the plastic around the radio controls is also of the hard and cheap variety. Is it the same as what is on the bottom of the door?
I think you need to go back and re-read this thread.
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