[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by VetteGuy

Not sure the sale of SUVs is related to COVID so much as it is the American mentality that bigger is better. Look at any list of the top 10, even top 25 vehicles, sold in America last five years, and it Will be dominated by trucks (perennial top 3-4) then more SUVs than cars.

I'll never understand 6 figure luxury/sport SUV's. Absolutely ludicrous.

It's not just America. SUV's are the rave in China....... hence why [illegal] exporting became such a huge issue here in the states.

[SCOTT26]

Originally Posted by Flamingi

Behind the europlates is the front impact bar, even if you removed the plastic, you would just see a metal bar instead.

Also for those thinking of how the aftermarket will "fix" the kidney grille. BMW might frown upon this especially if it hinders the car's originally designed and tested impact points.
They have done so in the past.

[SCOTT26]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

It's not just America. SUV's are the rave in China....... hence why [illegal] exporting became such a huge issue here in the states.

Indeed that's why the XM is coming. As is an all new iX1 and an entry "urban" SAV below the X1.

[Flamingi]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

Also for those thinking of how the aftermarket will "fix" the kidney grille. BMW might frown upon this especially if it hinders the car's originally designed and tested impact points.
They have done so in the past.

BMW probably frowns about everything you modify, but still they won't really care too much (as long as you are ok with those parts possibly not being covered by warranty). Much more interesting is getting it through checks like the TÜV in Germany. It's save to say, if it passes TÜV it will pass every other check in any country. (The baseline of the check for any part (even rims!) is: If it isn't OEM it's illegal. You then have to proof the opposite with really harsh test = they will destroy multiple sets of the parts you want to install to test the durability. Of course the manufacturer can do those in advance for their product line and give you a certificate).

[dmk08]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

2 weeks later....

Anyone who was not on board earlier come around?

Not I. I thought I would come around but looks like ill be skipping this generation of M3. First since the e46.

[Rick955]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

Also for those thinking of how the aftermarket will "fix" the kidney grille. BMW might frown upon this especially if it hinders the car's originally designed and tested impact points.
They have done so in the past.

I agree. The question will be to what extent will you want to modify, and to what extreme it would affect design. It could be as simple as something to just "break up" the giant space a bit, (excuse my crude mockup here, I'm not saying I like this... just an example! ).



I'm sure there will be some clever mod options if you really do like the car, but hate the grill that much.

[RoundelM3]

I thought the "Bangle Butt" was atrocious...this new front end is just plain hideous. What the HELL were they thinking? At this point, all they'd have to do is remove those two lower grille segments and it'd be a good start, but I'll be hanging on to my F80 until BMW comes to its senses.

[Mavus]

Chris H said "the new M3 and M4 appearing to have borrowed facial features from a yawning rabbit"

[KevinGS]

Originally Posted by Rick955

I agree. The question will be to what extent will you want to modify, and to what extreme it would affect design. It could be as simple as something to just "break up" the giant space a bit, (excuse my crude mockup here, I'm not saying I like this... just an example! ).



I'm sure there will be some clever mod options if you really do like the car, but hate the grill that much.

They'll be sooo many aftermarket solutions in the next 18 months, there will be plenty to choose from. Among enthusiasts, it will be rare for anyone to have a stock grille. Hec, even with the smaller kidney grilles we actually like, many of us STILL buy aftermarket "upgrades" (e.g. gloss black, slat color changes, slat angle changes, etc.)

I have faith that there will be some truly impressing aftermarket solutions. I'm more worried about the sound at this point. It still sounds a bit off to me. Hope it sounds better in person. And hec, I want less burbles, not more.

Love that interior though.

[Flamingi]

Originally Posted by KevinGS

They'll be sooo many aftermarket solutions in the next 18 months, there will be plenty to choose from. Among enthusiasts, it will be rare for anyone to have a stock grille. Hec, even with the smaller kidney grilles we actually like, many of us STILL buy aftermarket "upgrades" (e.g. gloss black, slat color changes, slat angle changes, etc.)

I have faith that there will be some truly impressing aftermarket solutions. I'm more worried about the sound at this point. It still sounds a bit off to me. Hope it sounds better in person. And hec, I want less burbles, not more.

Love that interior though.

You reaaaaaallly overestimate the amount of people that are willing to do any major mods to their cars. I'm pretty sure percentage wise the number of people that will replace their front bumper and grille is negligible. Not even talking about loosing your insurance if you modify your car (something that is often overlooked here...)

[JCZ5]

Originally Posted by Flamingi

You reaaaaaallly overestimate the amount of people that are willing to do any major mods to their cars. I'm pretty sure percentage wise the number of people that will replace their front bumper and grille is negligible. Not even talking about loosing your insurance if you modify your car (something that is often overlooked here...)

Exactly. I am open to do some extensive mods like suspension, exhaust, CF accents. But I would never replace major body panels when BMW engineers spent enormous amounts of time and money for aero, etc. And I would assume these body panel changes would be very pricey.

[Rick955]

Originally Posted by Flamingi

You reaaaaaallly overestimate the amount of people that are willing to do any major mods to their cars. I'm pretty sure percentage wise the number of people that will replace their front bumper and grille is negligible. Not even talking about loosing your insurance if you modify your car (something that is often overlooked here...)

Yeah, especially if you lease. Outside of a mod that just allows you to easily remove the old, pop on the new in place, then swap them back out when you return the car, you risk issues with a lease return. Even if I owned it outright, I wouldn't even consider it unless it was something easy to do, and at a minimum, give the new owner the option to just swap it back out when selling it.

But that won't stop 3rd party companies from jumping on the opportunities... we'll see all sorts of things... from simple bras to major changes. It will be kind of crazy to see how many front end modifications will be out there several years from now. You may not even recognize the car from your rearview mirror!

[KevinGS]

Originally Posted by Flamingi

You reaaaaaallly overestimate the amount of people that are willing to do any major mods to their cars. I'm pretty sure percentage wise the number of people that will replace their front bumper and grille is negligible. Not even talking about loosing your insurance if you modify your car (something that is often overlooked here...)

Many enthusiasts will modify the grille, because many of us modify the acceptable, nice-looking smaller grilles. So you KNOW we're tinkering with this massive thing, and there will be several iterations (body-colored slats, portions reconfigured, etc.). And most won't be bumper mods, they will be rather simple grille modifications, so insurance is not an issue (nor is leasing, because you can just put it back to its original state). We know the aftermarket is already on it.

And many won't modify it, and that's fine too....but a lot of us will, because it's what we do anyway, even when the grille is small and perfect as is.

[dmk08]

Originally Posted by KevinGS

Many enthusiasts will modify the grille, because many of us modify the acceptable, nice-looking smaller grilles. So you KNOW we're tinkering with this massive thing, and there will be several iterations (body-colored slats, portions reconfigured, etc.). And most won't be bumper mods, they will be rather simple grille modifications, so insurance is not an issue (nor is leasing, because you can just put it back to its original state). We know the aftermarket is already on it.

And many won't modify it, and that's fine too....but a lot of us will, because it's what we do anyway, even when the grille is small and perfect as is.

Changing the grill to black and the need to redesign the entire thing is a bit different animal IMO. The latter will likely involve body colored paint which is hard to match.

[snareman]

I swapped out the front and rear bumpers on my e92 back circa 2009 and I admit it wasn't the most enjoyable, simple or short process. And then I had to do something with the original bumpers. They are too big to ship via UPS so I ended up shipping them via Greyhound bus to the person I sold them to. I likely wouldn't go through it all again. I forget how much I spent doing all that.

And, wow are those grilles dainty small!

[VetteGuy]

Originally Posted by snareman

I swapped out the front and rear bumpers on my e92 back circa 2009 and I admit it wasn't the most enjoyable, simple or short process. And then I had to do something with the original bumpers. They are too big to ship via UPS so I ended up shipping them via Greyhound bus to the person I sold them to. I likely wouldn't go through it all again. I forget how much I spent doing all that.

And, wow are those grilles dainty small!

But it looked great!

[Adriano917]

I seriously don’t know what BMW was thinking with those front grills, maybe it’ll look different in person.

[djsilverjohnson]

https://www.thedrive.com/news/37132/...y-in-the-works

[IB M]

Game changer

https://www.thedrive.com/news/37132/...y-in-the-works

[BimmerRookie]

Originally Posted by djsilverjohnson

https://www.thedrive.com/news/37132/...y-in-the-works

If Prior Design goes through with this, the demand is going to be through the roof. What an incredible improvement over the current design. Looks like what it should have looked like out of the factory (IMHO)

[dmk08]

Originally Posted by IB M

Game changer

https://www.thedrive.com/news/37132/...y-in-the-works

M340i with blacked out grills looks better. Why couldnt they have left the M3 alone and just bastardized the M4. No one cares about it anyway.

[Penguino]

Here's a quick PS of a clean hood.