[chrisny]

Originally Posted by praxis218

I'd call it a reboot.

Not when you consider the rest of the package, IMO. The lines of the car. The busy front end. They side profile. The headlights. When everyone that looks at the car sees some other brand, that's the problem I'm talking about.

The problem is not specific design cues as if they have to always remain, but enough that they are immediately recognizable as a BMW, at least within generations (it's ok if a great grandpa has a different image in their head of what a BMW looks like then their great grandkid, but they should both have such a picture!).

Up to now, as they evolved, they did it slowly enough to retain recognizable character from one to the next. Not because they look like a 2 door convertible from 1945, which by the way, had only 2 headlights. Go back further, no kidney grills.

[rmedeir1]

Growing on me like a wart

[KamboSamf82]

[seis-speed]

SCOTT26

You have seen the car, how close is this?

Seems a body-colored-panel running between the grilles horizontally would break it up and allow for a better look for an American plate.

[bobloblaw]

Originally Posted by seis-speed

SCOTT26

You have seen the car, how close is this?

Seems a body-colored-panel running between the grilles horizontally would break it up and allow for a better look for an American plate.

He has seen the car. And considering that he started this thread and it looks just like the leaks, I'd guess it's extremely close. I remember before the F80 came out, renders like this were like 99% accurate to the production model once the more advanced test cars and leaks started. IIRC that happened pretty damn early, like over a year before it was unveiled.

[The Choosey begger]

I'll pay extra to get the regular size kidney grills package!

[dmboone25]

If they were 20-25% smaller, it could look like a nice change. But this isn’t working.

[SoCali E36]

I'm going to have a very hard time selling this car if it looks anything close to that.

[R N M]

As i said many times - i’m happy i have my F80 M3 Competition.

This new one will be uglier, heavier and less raw driving experience.

G80 buyers will be those who leased F80, need AWD, or blind!

At least the New M3 will look better than this epic disaster!

[gds52]

Looks more Japanese than German :

[zenderm3]

We definitely need a power bulge! I'm sure it will look great.

[Happy Motoring]

Originally Posted by Megabass

Death of the power dome?

There's bigger problems than that

[bobloblaw]

Originally Posted by R N M

As i said many times - i’m happy i have my F80 M3 Competition.

This new one will be uglier, heavier and less raw driving experience.

G80 buyers will be those who leased F80, need AWD, or blind!

At least the New M3 will look better than this epic disaster!

Oh God, I can already see people using this photo in the near future for the 5er LCI lol. The new angel eyes also look very similar to this based on the spy shots.

[Megabass]

Originally Posted by R N M

As i said many times - i’m happy i have my F80 M3 Competition.

This new one will be uglier, heavier and less raw driving experience.

G80 buyers will be those who leased F80, need AWD, or blind!

At least the New M3 will look better than this epic disaster!

Everything I read said it was lighter then the current gen. I agree with you, so happy I have an f80, such a good looking car.

[SDRX]

Originally Posted by BwoodBMW

1- you definitely don't have an order to cancel
2- that grill is coming whether you like it or not

Originally Posted by BwoodBMW

1- you definitely don't have an order to cancel
2- that grill is coming whether you like it or not

1. Wasn't speaking in literal terms. More so figure of speech/metaphorically. And for clarity, I'm on a list after paying £500 and customers will then be assigned build slots in the order they joined the list. So technically, I am preordering and the sentiment behind my point stands.

2. Evidence ? It's all in relation to the new 4.

[hellrotm]

Originally Posted by seis-speed

SCOTT26

You have seen the car, how close is this?

Seems a body-colored-panel running between the grilles horizontally would break it up and allow for a better look for an American plate.

Given that he posted the renders, they must be very close.

[Colinv6]

Originally Posted by SDRX

1. Wasn't speaking in literal terms. More so figure of speech/metaphorically. And for clarity, I'm on a list after paying £500 and customers will then be assigned build slots in the order they joined the list. So technically, I am preordering and the sentiment behind my point stands.

2. Evidence ? It's all in relation to the new 4.

Why would you pay to join a list for the new M3? These cars will be available left right and centre from launch. Not only that you will get absolutely caned on depreciation. Every new M car model in the UK recently has had insane deals 6-12 months after launch.

Just seems utterly mental to me, just to be “first”. I’m trying to help you out here man. Get your £500 back ASAP

[dezzracer]

Originally Posted by f80er

Don't know but this scott26 dude seems to be somewhat in the know. So I would imagine even if they aren't spot on they will be pretty close to the final product.

I had a friendly forum debate with Scott awhile back. I don't think this is the grill. Everyone can shoot me again but I just can't see BMW doing that do the 3 series M cars. The grill will be different no doubt and larger I will agree with that. Perhaps more like the orange car rendering on the first page. But even that is a stretch IMO.

You know BMW reads these forums. They are testing the waters and throwing "leaks" out there to gauge response. Whatever they come up with it's going to look good. I mean look at the new M8. My lord that car is beautiful and mean looking at the same time. Why would BMW ruin their halo 3 series car with a butt ugly grill. :

[stevenopoly]

this is the ugliest car I've seen for at least a decade.

[dezzracer]

Originally Posted by stevenopoly

this is the ugliest car I've seen for at least a decade.

Lol... see what I mean.

[msej449]

Car designers seem to universally ignore the need to accommodate a license plate. As if it was a minor detail. But it changes the whole layout of the front. In this case, I could handle the new grille, but in the UK (and Germany, it seems) you legally have to plonk a big plate in the middle somewhere - which ruins the whole aesthetics of such a large grille.

[A6bullet]

Originally Posted by chrisny

I just don't get it. Do a google image search for 19xx BMW. Change the decade from 1970 to 2020, hitting each decade. Grille barely changed from 70's - 90's. The cars did, grill didnt and didn't need to. 2000-2010, slight evolution to more modern look. Now it is changing drastically several times last couple years. Seems like every new model gets a new grille, and not always that subtle of a change, instead of a slight change to an iconic symbol that then goes out to all variants with just little variation.

I don't hate some of the newer ones. Just don't get why it is changing so often. And I do hate some of them (none more than this render, 7 series also comes to mind).

Losing their heritage, fast. Not a good thing.

Excess consumerism is damaging the brand. BMW used to be about cars made with passion. Now its all about production, mass numbers, max profit. (not complaining about capitalism, I know how it works)

This is what happens when a brand's balance tips to be beholden to numbers over heritage. Happens to all brands as they get bigger. I had just hoped BMW would have managed to keep it in check. They want to be a global power, this is the price we pay.