[Cortexiphan]

Originally Posted by gatorfast

So…all of the comments on this site, from automotive journalists, YouTube reviewers, etc are overwhelmingly positive in terms of aesthetic feedback? You must be using a different internet than I am. I don't know how you can say the majority of the feedback on looks is not negative.

Who is negative about 3 series design in the reviews?
4 series is different, it's kind of like Bangle era designs, ahead of common people who are not sophisticated enough to understand the design. But I've never seen hate towards 3 series design.

And when I say the Internet is not a good place to measure feedback, I mean everything on the Internet is hated. What is the most successful tech gadget in the world? The iPhone. Look at the Internet. It seems like everybody hates it since it came out. And with ALL the brands, you always read "They're not like they used to be". No, they're way better. Everything gets better. Even when you think about other topics: Internet thinks streets are like a carnage now. No, it's safer than when we were little and riding bicycles outside by ourselves. Internet thinks it's the worst time to be alive now.

That's why when someone says "BMWs used to have desirable designs and now they're bland", it's incredible, and the exact opposite of reality.

Take E36:

So this is desirable, beautifully designed:



And this is 'BLAND' and not desirable:



Seriously?

And that fraking troll is saying I'm rewriting history.

No I'm not. With a few exceptions, every single BMW has been better than the previous one. Also, BMW had a reliability revolution with the not so successful F series cars: until F30 all of their cars had some sort of a known annoying issue, like burning oil, like rod bearings, like cooling system failures, and the list goes on.
Since 2010s, they don't - I mean there will always be some issues but they're way more rare.

Also, until G series, they were ALWAYS behind in terms of interior design and quality feel. Now, THEY'RE NOT. You're talking about YouTube reviews, etc; it seems like you only look at the parts that fits your view. Universally, almost ALL BMW models beat their competitions in comparison tests. Universally interior quality is praised. Universally, suspension and comfort are praised - except for the X3M. Universally BMW has the BEST engines (Seriously is there any engine that can even compete with B58?) , BEST fit and finish, BEST transmissions (Can anything compete with ZF8?), and the list goes on, again. This has never been the case before.

And some of the most overrated cars in history are the old BMWs, especially E36, E39, and E90.
Especially E39 M5 - let alone F90 - even a modern G30 540i is sportier, sharper, faster, better built, and more ahead of its competition than E39 used to be.

[iifymbro]

Originally Posted by gatorfast

So…all of the comments on this site, from automotive journalists, YouTube reviewers, etc are overwhelmingly positive in terms of aesthetic feedback? You must be using a different internet than I am. I don't know how you can say the majority of the feedback on looks is not negative.

on the G20? yeah it's not majority negative on the looks idk what you're smoking lol, I consistently see it used as an example of one of the last good looking BMWs being produced at the moment

[G30M]

thought i saw a skoda in the rear view mirror. when it got close i thought it had 3 series headlights and a round blue badge.

was it the G20 LCI?

whipped out the phone hoping the next set of lights will stop us both but it turned left

[Burrcold]

Originally Posted by Cortexiphan

Well, I’m glad my replies are found to be idiotic by an idiot.

[wdc330i]

Originally Posted by Cortexiphan

Who is negative about 3 series design in the reviews?
4 series is different, it's kind of like Bangle era designs, ahead of common people who are not sophisticated enough to understand the design. But I've never seen hate towards 3 series design.

And when I say the Internet is not a good place to measure feedback, I mean everything on the Internet is hated. What is the most successful tech gadget in the world? The iPhone. Look at the Internet. It seems like everybody hates it since it came out. And with ALL the brands, you always read "They're not like they used to be". No, they're way better. Everything gets better. Even when you think about other topics: Internet thinks streets are like a carnage now. No, it's safer than when we were little and riding bicycles outside by ourselves. Internet thinks it's the worst time to be alive now.

That's why when someone says "BMWs used to have desirable designs and now they're bland", it's incredible, and the exact opposite of reality.

Take E36:

So this is desirable, beautifully designed:



And this is 'BLAND' and not desirable:



Seriously?

And that fraking troll is saying I'm rewriting history.

No I'm not. With a few exceptions, every single BMW has been better than the previous one. Also, BMW had a reliability revolution with the not so successful F series cars: until F30 all of their cars had some sort of a known annoying issue, like burning oil, like rod bearings, like cooling system failures, and the list goes on.
Since 2010s, they don't - I mean there will always be some issues but they're way more rare.

Also, until G series, they were ALWAYS behind in terms of interior design and quality feel. Now, THEY'RE NOT. You're talking about YouTube reviews, etc; it seems like you only look at the parts that fits your view. Universally, almost ALL BMW models beat their competitions in comparison tests. Universally interior quality is praised. Universally, suspension and comfort are praised - except for the X3M. Universally BMW has the BEST engines (Seriously is there any engine that can even compete with B58?) , BEST fit and finish, BEST transmissions (Can anything compete with ZF8?), and the list goes on, again. This has never been the case before.

And some of the most overrated cars in history are the old BMWs, especially E36, E39, and E90.
Especially E39 M5 - let alone F90 - even a modern G30 540i is sportier, sharper, faster, better built, and more ahead of its competition than E39 used to be.

Reliabilty: I’ve had 11 BMWs over more than 20 years; only one was truly troublesome—and eventually its bugs were worked out and it’s been going strong with its new owner at 17 years +.

I do agree with your assessment about looks. There is always resistance to the stylistic changes from model to model. I have a 4 series GC, and it is a far better car than my M240 with LSD with legacy BMW style cues.

Do I love the looks of the 4 GC, after being a BMW buyer for 22 years? Not so much. But, I could overcome them for the performance advancements, which are substantial. Plus my car is BSM, so it hides a lot of the new design cues (or so I tell myself.) The grille is still startling, but the older, smaller ones are also starting to look dated. I suspect there will be more acceptance of them in the future. (The E36 looks pretty dated to me at this point.)

But, the G26 is a fantastic car; the best of 22 years worth of models.

Is it as rough and visceral as my E46 M3? Or my 2 series? No. Is it smooth, composed, powerful, and completely flat in the curves? Yes. Amazing car. And with the hatch, it’s as practical as an SUV, while still being as sporty as I need when I’m in the mood. Plus, as comfortable as a 5 series, when I want that, too. Truly a marvel.

If I wanted to go back to two or three cars, I might not buy this one. Would probably have a Boxster 4.0; X3 M40i, and a 5 series. But, for a one-car solution for an enthusiast, the G26 GC is spot on.

[buckybadger]

Design is too busy.
Whatever happened to that cohesive BMW language.

[MonkeyTosh]

This was posted right now on the BMW instagram

[ramparts]

Told you it wasn't far off

[advantage20]

Originally Posted by CyclingBroStyle

My only critique is the headlights. I didn't like when bmw moved away from the angel eyes. But on the current 3er, the laser lights were a nice modern look to the halo. So I opted for those when coming from the F32 with LED to G20. However I am not a fan of the upside down headlight thing that's happening on the LCI.

Right, the downwards weighted angel eyes were reminiscent of a determined aquiline/feline gaze; flipping them downwards up now looks like a cat having its forehead skin pulled back

[Nebraska330xi]

They didn't totally pillage the design but the current 3 is so good looking in 340 spec that this is a step back.