[Fhey]

Originally Posted by cheveux

If you guys think the car is beautiful, take i account that 90% of the times you will be seeing standard 420d's like those, not that fancy m440i

Firstly, those look fine. Not great, but fine.
But that was the case for the F30 and F32 without an M-sport pack as well in my opinion, so there's that.

And secondly, and possibly more importantly, why should we care about what someone else's car configuration looks like?
I'm going to be configuring MY car so that I find it beautiful.
If someone else wants to configure their car differently, then they're welcome to do so.

[SteveinArizona]

Originally Posted by AP888

yep not a fan of those big grills old style looks 10x better

I was listening to a Consumer Reports pod cast while exercising this morning. They were discussing the new Ford F150 and the fact that it came with a folding gear shifter instead of a push button shifter as seen on other recent Ford products.

The hosts suggested that Ford was listening to its loyal users who didn't want a push button shifter. Wow...a car company that might actually be listening to its loyal users.

I guess BMW didn't get the message when it designed and stuck with the Edsel bugs bunny grills despite almost universal scorn from users at forums like this one and from car reviewers.

[Greer]

When you put a USA front license plate on this thing it is going to look awful. BMW is going to see Mercedes widen the gap big time in their sales lead.

[snareman]

Originally Posted by SteveinArizona

I was listening to a Consumer Reports pod cast while exercising this morning. They were discussing the new Ford F150 and the fact that it came with a folding gear shifter instead of a push button shifter as seen on other recent Ford products.

The hosts suggested that Ford was listening to its loyal users who didn't want a push button shifter. Wow...a car company that might actually be listening to its loyal users.

I guess BMW didn't get the message when it designed and stuck with the Edsel bugs bunny grills despite almost universal scorn from users at forums like this one and from car reviewers.

BMW didn't get the message when it hired a chief designer that admits he doesn't care what we think.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by SteveinArizona

I was listening to a Consumer Reports pod cast while exercising this morning. They were discussing the new Ford F150 and the fact that it came with a folding gear shifter instead of a push button shifter as seen on other recent Ford products.

The hosts suggested that Ford was listening to its loyal users who didn't want a push button shifter. Wow...a car company that might actually be listening to its loyal users.

I guess BMW didn't get the message when it designed and stuck with the Edsel bugs bunny grills despite almost universal scorn from users at forums like this one and from car reviewers.

So BMW listening to customer complaints (...not to be confused with your specific complaints) about the desire for differentiation, etc. isn't noteworthy? ....or is it because they made changes based on the complaints of others rather than yours?!?

[VetteGuy]

Originally Posted by SteveinArizona

I was listening to a Consumer Reports pod cast while exercising this morning. They were discussing the new Ford F150 and the fact that it came with a folding gear shifter instead of a push button shifter as seen on other recent Ford products.

The hosts suggested that Ford was listening to its loyal users who didn't want a push button shifter. Wow...a car company that might actually be listening to its loyal users.

I guess BMW didn't get the message when it designed and stuck with the Edsel bugs bunny grills despite almost universal scorn from users at forums like this one and from car reviewers.

The fact is that the host only "suggested" that Ford was listening to customers. I doubt that the shifter was the result of a flood of emails or social media rants.

All manufacturers use their prototype show cars to collect market feedback for future production cars. In my humble opinion BMW is simply using this new G22 ICE models as the niche platform for the i4 all electric vehicle version that should go into production in 2021.

If you look at the fully electric vehicles coming to market, most differ significantly from the heritage of their manufacturer, mostly to keep pace with Tesla and other futuristic looking upstarts. BMW is simply entering that market with a new body style. That said, the new 4 is a hell of a lot better looking, inside and out, than any of the Tesla models, especially their Model 3 which has the nose completely chopped off.

[NorCalAthlete]

Originally Posted by VetteGuy

The fact is that the host only "suggested" that Ford was listening to customers. I doubt that the shifter was the result of a flood of emails or social media rants.

All manufacturers use their prototype show cars to collect market feedback for future production cars. In my humble opinion BMW is simply using this new G22 ICE models as the niche platform for the i4 all electric vehicle version that should go into production in 2021.

If you look at the fully electric vehicles coming to market, most differ significantly from the heritage of their manufacturer, mostly to keep pace with Tesla and other futuristic looking upstarts. BMW is simply entering that market with a new body style. That said, the new 4 is a hell of a lot better looking, inside and out, than any of the Tesla models, especially their Model 3 which has the nose completely chopped off.

I find it curious that everyone is so focused on the grills, nobody else seems to have caught the live broadcast comments on the all-electric 4. The way he said it implied (to my ears at least) that the G22 would have an all-electric powertrain option. He did not differentiate between the G22 4-series and the i4 as one might have thought.

[eff32fl]

Originally Posted by zarehs27

A photoshop, using 2GC's grill (which, weirdly, I think is one of the best BMW grills right now) and with Hoffmeister kink.

that looks awesome with that smaller grille. the new 4 series looks super nice aside from the huge new grille. the 2022 model will fix it i'm sure.

[SteveinArizona]

BMW has traditionally offered different front ends depending upon whether one buys the MSport model or the regular model. Why not do the same thing with the beaver grills: offer the beaver grills on one variant and the traditional grills on the other variant.

It would be very interesting to see the take rate on each. If it is materially higher on the beaver grills, the new design director is right. if it is materially higher on the traditional grills, fire the design director [which is probably why this suggestion won't be followed].

[VetteGuy]

What has been lost in this discussion is that the new 4 Series, is in fact a series of new cars, coupe, grand coupe, convertible, M4 and a plug-in EV, all designed and built not on the 3 series, but on the i4 show car. The 4 series will stand individually within the company and make or break it on the styling of the series.

I doubt there will be any significant grill changes within the new 4 series before the second or third year of the i4 which does not reach the market until 2022.

[stein_325i]

Originally Posted by VetteGuy

What has been lost in this discussion is that the new 4 Series, is in fact a series of new cars, coupe, grand coupe, convertible, M4 and a plug-in EV, all designed and built not on the 3 series, but on the i4 show car. The 4 series will stand individually within the company and make or break it on the styling of the series.

I doubt there will be any significant grill changes within the new 4 series before the second or third year of the i4 which does not reach the market until 2022.

What are you talking about? The 4-series, 3 series and i4 are all built on the same CLAR platform. The 4-series does not have any "unique" parts/platforms, its all based off the 3er, the interior for example is pretty much a carbon copy, the i4 is being built around the 3er, which will likely compromise it, since its not a from the ground up, dedicated EV platform.

[VetteGuy]

Yes, you are correct, the platform and interior are basically identical, but the packages are growing apart because of the i4 concept coming to fruition.

[steker]

I was wondering what it looked like if the grill surround had the same colour as the body, so I created the photoshopped image below. I know most will still hate it, but to me this this doesn't look bad at all. It makes the grill blend in much better in my opinion, and this is an easy mod for owners (you could even wrap it this way).

I still applaud BMW for taking this huge risk in a car landscape where every new model looks like a tiny iteration of the previous model. Let's see in a year or two how it plays out for them. If sales are bad, the LCI will get the G20 grill I can only assume, and all is back to normal.

[jhm5]

I will de-badge my '18 440i. I don't want the beautiful F32 to be associated with this G22 pig. Hideous nose. Too big. No Hofmeister kink.

[VetteGuy]

Originally Posted by steker

I was wondering what it looked like if the grill surround had the same colour as the body, so I created the photoshopped image below. I know most will still hate it, but to me this this doesn't look bad at all. It makes the grill blend in much better in my opinion, and this is an easy mod for owners (you could even wrap it this way).

I still applaud BMW for taking this huge risk in a car landscape where every new model looks like a tiny iteration of the previous model. Let's see in a year or two how it plays out for them. If sales are bad, the LCI will get the G20 grill I can only assume, and all is back to normal.

I don't mind the size, shape, or the contrast of the surround, but the shiny "nuggets" look wrong, just as they do on the M340i. All gloss black would look fine. The pics of the M Performance option with CF surround and black grill looks aggressive. I think the bars in the new M3 M4 look pretty good too.

[BRImpulse]

Originally Posted by steker

I was wondering what it looked like if the grill surround had the same colour as the body, so I created the photoshopped image below. I know most will still hate it, but to me this this doesn't look bad at all. It makes the grill blend in much better in my opinion, and this is an easy mod for owners (you could even wrap it this way).

I still applaud BMW for taking this huge risk in a car landscape where every new model looks like a tiny iteration of the previous model. Let's see in a year or two how it plays out for them. If sales are bad, the LCI will get the G20 grill I can only assume, and all is back to normal.

I think this is a great idea when using a non-black/white/grey shade of paint, and is much better than the stock design! My go-to configuration based on what a bunch of you folks posted so far is the all-black/grey configurations with the shadow-line blacked-out front grille. But since the blue is my favourite, this config of the outer grille matching body paint colour makes it a lot better, imo.

I still think they just need to scrap the grille and do better but one can dream...

[VetteGuy]

Your painted surround looks good on the blue. Could possibly make the bulbous surround of the 3 and other BMWs look better too.

I think the grill of the 4 will look much better with the mesh all blacked out like the M Performance piece with the carbon surround. The cerium or silver nuggets on both the 3 and 4 look tacky to me. First thing I would change on either car.

IMO, the grill on the 4 is going to look much different in person, when it’s in perspective to the car, and not photographed to intentionally distort it like many pics have.

[BMWGirlFL]

[M3Sleeper]

I actually really like this car as well I just don't like the Canard fins on the front bumper or the black decals or M badge on the sides but I can have those removed like I did on my M340. This car will look nice in person I am willing to bet some of you change your minds in about 2 years after seeming more of them. I really like it

[M3Sleeper]

Originally Posted by paulso

This to me looks fantastic, I can't wait to see the M versions!

I bet 95% of the 16 pages are people bitching and whining. What in the world is the point of that? This is the design they picked, you see the same people repeating over and over again, in every damn thread on this board, or multiple times per thread how it's such an awful design and they aren't going to buy one, blah blah. I've got news for you ... no one cares, the future brings innovation, so either get used to it, or go spam some other forums.

Yes its the same people who bitched about the M340 grill and now they all love it

[az-bimmer]

I personally like the front grille when matched with the color of the car. Chrome doesn't look good at all, it stands out too much. I think the large grille gives the car a more aggressive look especially with the Böser Blick Headlights. My personal preference would be Black Sapphire Metallic with Shadowline package and black rims. M Sport is a must have if I would go with the 430i.

[AndiC]

Front bumper by prior designs