[Salespunk]

I have not been a grill hater on this car. Not super stoked on the vents above the grill, they look awkward in the pictures. Also the smoothed out rear flares, similar to the F82, do not look as good to my eye compared to the F80. Seems like a lot of different angles and lines going on overall.

The interior OTH looks amazing. All of the lines and angles flow together really well.

[gemini.m3]

Originally Posted by frankiebones

I appreciate your sentiment. Unfortunately, I don't even consider my CS a "car" as it's not 6MT. I never should have sold my prior F80 (in 6MT) and when my lease was up, I was 20k miles over, the F80 was 7 months out of production, and I had no choice but to turn it in or be upside down on the car.

Yea your current car is hot mate, but if it’s the manual you’re seeking then the g80 is the obvious choice.. that or an m2 cs!

[frankiebones]

Originally Posted by deceptiv.M3

Yea your current car is hot mate, but if it’s the manual you’re seeking then the g80 is the obvious choice.. that or an m2 cs!

Funny thing is i used to get "nods" and "thumbs up" in my base F80 from fellow enthusiasts and F8x owners. Since I got the CS 18 months ago, all F8x owners shun me...enjoy your M2 CS!

[yousefnjr]

Unfortunately you know this is coming

[Teutonic]

I never understood why the rear door panel does not flow with the fender improving the overall wide stance of the car.

3 Series door on an M3 I guess... Money saving?

Either way, both look like pigs.

[JTO24]

Originally Posted by yousefnjr

Unfortunately you know this is coming

I hate that you're right

[stein_325i]

Originally Posted by Teutonic

I never understood why the rear door panel does not flow with the fender improving the overall wide stance of the car.

3 Series door on an M3 I guess... Money saving?

Either way, both look like pigs.

Yes its actually because they share the doors with the regular car. I'm pretty sure one of the reasons that the E46 M3 was never made in sedan form was actually because of engineering/design issues with the rear doors.

[CachacoF80]

Common people, what's with the negativity?

This amazing-ly horrible design will provide resale price support for those who have the F8X platform. I mean, they even managed to make the mirrors look horrible!

[X3MCRN]

I think I'll get the X3m competition instead. It's a shame, too, because they finally put an AWD in play which favors the seasonal use of the vehicles, and in my opinion, totally fuck up the design. I was looking forward to getting my first m3 or m4. I don't understand how anyone can find this attractive. I can't even really find anything good to say about these except maybe their seats.

[xlover]

Originally Posted by Wills2

It's to be compliant with an EU rule stating that the wheels and tyres have to be completely covered by the bodywork hence they stick those wheel arch spats on.

That seems to be the case, thanks for adding another voice... personally I prefer the flush design and am happy that bmw optimized the design around the US market and saved the add on for Europe vs an unnecessarily bulky fender than fit all markets but hides the wheels

[MadMoose]

I'm undecided on the hood design but like the rest. Still plan on getting one when my M340i lease is up in a year and a half

[pbar]

Originally Posted by Teutonic

I never understood why the rear door panel does not flow with the fender improving the overall wide stance of the car.
3 Series door on an M3 I guess...

This is perhaps one of the reasons for the fake air vent behind the front wheels so that there are matching cutouts front and rear?

[2011ninja]

Originally Posted by seis-speed

There are three camps. Those that love it & will purchase, those that hate and will not buy, and those that will buy, but the design is not necessarily their cup of tea.

I would definitely buy it, but I can also have the opinion that the E46-F80 generations were better looking and be critical of the design decisions.

I will add the disclaimer: I do not need a (newer car) to be beautiful for me to buy and enjoy, it has to drive well, have 4-doors and have a 6MT. I daily drove a Focus RS for a year and it is not an amazing looking car, but it was a blast to drive.

Originally Posted by seis-speed

There are three camps. Those that love it & will purchase, those that hate and will not buy, and those that will buy, but the design is not necessarily their cup of tea.

I would definitely buy it, but I can also have the opinion that the E46-F80 generations were better looking and be critical of the design decisions.

I will add the disclaimer: I do not need a (newer car) to be beautiful for me to buy and enjoy, it has to drive well, have 4-doors and have a 6MT. I daily drove a Focus RS for a year and it is not an amazing looking car, but it was a blast to drive.

You survived a year with Focus RS?

Impressive...

I read that car reinvented the harsh ride.

If you ever see them on the road they bounce like shade tree mechanic "cut springs" on a Honda Civic with blown shocks.

[x77md]

Aftermarket bumpers...

[TX3M]

Originally Posted by 340iRN

I think I'll get the X3m competition instead. It's a shame, too, because they finally put an AWD in play which favors the seasonal use of the vehicles, and in my opinion, totally fuck up the design. I was looking forward to getting my first m3 or m4. I don't understand how anyone can find this attractive. I can't even really find anything good to say about these except maybe their seats.

Make sure you test drive an X3M extensively before you buy one. There is absolutely NO acceleration below 3000 RPM in any gear. It does not accelerate anything like other M cars do, it's very disappointing.

I was all ready to trade in my X3 M40i for an X3M Comp, but once I drove it and found this out it was a total deal-breaker for me. There are several threads on the F97/F98 forum about this and they are discussing it right now.

https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1757807

[Penguino]

Originally Posted by CachacoF80

Common people, what's with the negativity?

This amazing-ly horrible design will provide resale price support for those who have the F8X platform. I mean, they even managed to make the mirrors look horrible!

Says every person every time a new M3 model comes out.

[spool twice]

I think its the angle of the camara lense, similar to you kneeling down to take a pic of a car, that is causing the strange wheel-gap look. In spy photo's at a "normal viewing" angle, the gap doesn't appear as bad and looks better.

Idk?

I still feel it's one of those designs that makes me say this statement "if that's the look you're going for, you sure accomplished it..."


...but of course I usually say that to people when I'm not 100% on board when they ask me how they are dressed.

I'm sure I'll end up with one though, the straight on angle is fine with me as I don't mind the big gril (prior S5 and Lexus IS350 owner so....), perhaps the 3/4 front shots of these glamoured manufacturers shots where everything is elevated in contrast removes the 3D element of the grill vs the spy shots?

[tonymac1]

after a second look at the headlight, the removal of the headlight crease made the headlights look flatter, kind of wish they at least kept the 4 series headlight. If you take a look at the 4 series concept, the headlight looks way more 3 dimensional.

[robopp]

Originally Posted by e92ben

Perfect car to get in black. And make sure any and all trim is black. Hides all the hideous body lines.

Ha! That's what my wife said when I showed her a picture.

[rmedeir1]

Originally Posted by Prince_of_Persia

I think this will go down as the ugliest design BMW has ever done.

I was with you when I saw the first renders, but seeing these latest images my thoughts have softened and I can accept the new look now, BUT I will say the M4 looks so much more sporty on the side and rear view. Lets see what live gives us today at 6PM EST.

I do think the greys and blacks will come across so much better on the G8x design vs the F80 where the darker colors washed out the lines from a design standpoint.

[RowanBuds]

Originally Posted by deceptiv.M3

The consensus so far is the same across not just bimmerpost.. Facebook groups, Reddit and soon to be the bmw Instagram- I think disqualifying the negativity around this car as just a 1% is off

That said plenty of people will still purchase the car just based on the following

-interior
-tech
-awd
-manual sedan
-“new shiney” m3 to show off
-raw performance
-forged internals - better crank than s55

I think the car looks great except the front and looks a lot better than the f80 from the rear/side but I feel the right play here is to wait for LCI or the cs models when they’ve had an opportunity to refine the new look

I don’t have a horse in the race anyway, getting an m2 cs which I guess is still the old outgoing platform

How could you miss the biggest determining factor to the sales #'s here:

- BMW subsidizing leases way too heavily in order to show good sales/movement numbers.

[F85MTuNED]

Originally Posted by 2011ninja

You survived a year with Focus RS?

Impressive...

I read that car reinvented the harsh ride.

If you ever see them on the road they bounce like shade tree mechanic "cut springs" on a Honda Civic with blown shocks.

Classic..🤣