I finally figured out what has been bothering me about the new 3-series

"IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK" (idroveapickuptruck)
10/21/2013 at 02:22 • Filed to: None

Let me preface this by saying that I never liked the E90. At all. I used to drive an E46 which I loved and still regret selling and I thought that was a beautiful and timeless design that has aged very well. The F30 by all accounts is an upgrade over the E90 in the looks department, but whenever I looked at if something just felt off the whole time and I could never put my finger on it. But just now I figured it out: It's the gap between the hood and the kidneys.

Just look at that straight line

It's horrible and lazy, and now I can't unsee it. The F30's front for the most part is so much better than the E90s but just look at the E90 front end

That's a MUCH better place to put the hood line (Although I fucking hate the chrome kidney tops) It would have worked really well with the F30 since the headlights run straight into the kidneys, there really wouldn't be any line at all

Or another solution is to have it like they did on the E46 incorporating the kidneys into the hood:

Isn't that just so much better? WTF are you doing BMW? The Roundel isn't even on the hood!

/rant

DISCUSSION (43)

Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK
10/21/2013 at 02:37

Kinja'd!!!

This section is just a mess. The panel gap of the hood, the weird crease connecting the lights and the kidney bean, and the actual protrusion of the grille itself are just all too busy. It's unnecessarily overstyled, especially on a German car.

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him
10/21/2013 at 02:41

I don't really mind any of that other than the panel gap, I think the rest looks pretty good actually. Although I could probably do with only 1 set of creases on the main section of the hood. I'm not sure what the inner ones really add, but maybe they look better in other colors, white really highlights everything.

Milky > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK
10/21/2013 at 02:44

They finally made the headlight touch the grill .... so the only panel gap they would of needed would be a little 1 inch guy between the kidneys.

But no, straight across the entire car, design/engineering fail.

MtrRider Just Wants Doritos > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK
10/21/2013 at 02:49

That's what I though when I looked at it. Remove the inner crease and the lines get much cleaner and more BMW-ey.

Manuél Ferrari > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK
10/21/2013 at 02:57

What has been seen...

I never noticed it till you posted this. Now I def can't not see it.

I already hated the F30 front end. Now I hate it more.

While I agree the base E90 328i wasn't a looker I do like the 335i better (slightly different front end, even without M Sport) and the E90 M3 better still. I think the E90 looked good in the more aggressive trims than the F30 does in all it's trims. Need to wait for the F30 M3 to see if it's better than the F30 M Sport.

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > Manuél Ferrari
10/21/2013 at 03:00

The E90 M3 looks fine on it's own, and sometimes even regular E90s will look okay. But then when I see pictures of them side by side with an E46 or F30 I just hate it so much. The whole thing just seems so round and bloated. The E46 was just about perfect, great in regular form and exquisite in M3 form.

Manuél Ferrari > Manuél Ferrari
10/21/2013 at 03:02

Also - doesn't the F30 look like the spawn child of an E36, E90 and Japanese sports sedan to you?

The headlight covers remind me of the E36. It's like BMW took an E90 and mixed in past bimmer elements and modern Japenese design language (maybe more Infiniti than anything else).

Or I could just be on crack. Took NyQuil tonight.

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > Manuél Ferrari
10/21/2013 at 03:06

There's definitely some Japanese in there, I think mainly in the double hood creases. Get rid of the inner hood creases and fix the hood panel gap and I think it'd be a sharp looking car. Well sharper, It's still a huge improvement over the E90 either way. I hate the E90.

Manuél Ferrari > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK
10/21/2013 at 03:07

I like the E46 too (I have one - M3 coupe)

It was the last of the true 3 series line. The E9X is a much bigger car (also have one - E90 M3 sedan). It's not just the bodywork that's bloated. The car is massive compared to the E36 and E46. BMW had to make it bigger to compete since most buyers want the added size and the A4 and C Class had being growing.

The 3 is now what the 5 used to be.

The 2 coupe will be what the 3 coupe used to be

Manuél Ferrari > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK
10/21/2013 at 03:09

I really hope the 235i looks clean like the E46 did.

gmctavish needs more space > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK
10/21/2013 at 03:22

God dammit BMW.....

Kinja'd!!!

Redd, the RX-7 that could > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK
10/21/2013 at 03:27

It appears that the 3 series has a receding hood line starting below the kidney on the e46 and now above the roundel on the f30. I'm afraid this process cannot be stopped, and soon we will be seeing 3 series with hood lines directly center.

dale hunter hall > Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him
10/21/2013 at 05:36

The line is straight and symmetrical. The new BMW looks like a new BMW. It's like BMW got it's groove back. There is nothing wrong with the straight line. As one who hates where BMW has been the last few years this is totally acceptable.

Dunnik > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK
10/21/2013 at 06:25

Not the first time - nor the last, probably - that European safety regulations negatively affect the look of a car.

BKRM3 > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK
10/21/2013 at 07:04

Kinja'd!!!

That hood line is horrendous and I've been saying that since the F10 5 series. That said, you're wrong about the E90. I'm just gonna leave this here (if mobile kinja works today).

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK
10/21/2013 at 07:18

I've said this countless times before.

Although, I'm thinking about getting into the aftermarket hood business. Make carbon fiber hoods that extend down properly to the grilles. I mean, how hard could it be?

S H: now with more letters! > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK
10/21/2013 at 08:05

As mentioned, the change is to satisfy EU safety regs regarding pedestrian impacts.

As for the E90, the post-LCI version is infinitely meaner looking (you posted a pre-LCI sedan), the two added lines on the hood make a huge difference in the overall feel (not to mention other changes, like the updated tails).

Raphael Orlove > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK
10/21/2013 at 08:43

c-c-c-c-c-c-cost cutting

geemann > Raphael Orlove
10/21/2013 at 08:48

This is not a cost cutting thing! This design makes for a more expensive front fascia. As already stated, the straight line (read as: abomination to the aesthetic goodness) is for pedestrian safety. So if anything, damn the regulations.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Manuél Ferrari
10/21/2013 at 11:31

Yeah, the E90 M3 is almost an E39 M5 successor (although different in many ways). I love mine, but I'm looking forward to seeing what they've done with the M235i (or M2). Light makes right.

I have no interest in the current 3-series line, unless you count the Alpina diesel wagon...

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > BKRM3
10/21/2013 at 11:33

Kinja'd!!!

BKRM3 > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
10/21/2013 at 11:39

That. Just. Happened.

Manuél Ferrari > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
10/21/2013 at 14:01

I just looked up the curb weight for the first M5. It was lighter than my E90 M3, lol

Manuél Ferrari > Manuél Ferrari
10/21/2013 at 14:02

I meant E28, FYI

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Manuél Ferrari
10/21/2013 at 14:07

The first M5? Yeah, definitely.

Kinja'd!!!

The E34 is looking better to me every day...

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Manuél Ferrari
10/21/2013 at 14:07

The first M5? Yeah, definitely.

Kinja'd!!!

The E34 is looking better to me every day...

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Manuél Ferrari
10/21/2013 at 14:07

The first M5? Yeah, definitely.

Kinja'd!!!

The E34 is looking better to me every day...

Manuél Ferrari > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
10/21/2013 at 14:23

So many awesome Bimmers!

I need more money and garage spots. I would buy every M3 coupe and M5 from each generation. And throw in a Euro spec 1980s M6 too.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Manuél Ferrari
10/21/2013 at 14:29

I'd be very happy with my E90, an E30, an E46, an E34 and an E39. Is that too much to ask?!

Seen this?

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Manuél Ferrari
10/21/2013 at 14:30

I'd be very happy with my E90, an E30, an E46, an E34 and an E39. Is that too much to ask?!

Seen this?

Manuél Ferrari > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
10/21/2013 at 14:50

I have seen that video but I went ahead and watched it again. Thanks for linking, I love the production value and music in that video.

If you want a clean E46 M3 you don't have to win the lotto. I found one this year with under 32,000 miles on it. Bought it for $24,500. It had spent most of its life in the garage with occasional weekend drives.

I might have to sell one of my cars because I spent a ton buying a new house and upgrading it. But I don't want to. Every time I drive each car it makes me feel like it's family and selling it would be a betrayal. If my former house sells soon I won't have to sell any of my cars.

Manuél Ferrari > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
10/21/2013 at 14:57

BTW have you spent much time behind the wheel of an E46 M3? If so what are your impressions?

While my E90 M3 is the faster and more luxurious car I feel much more confident driving the E46 M3 fast. The steering in the E46 gives me more feedback and the handling seems worlds better. The E46 isn't the lightest car in the world but it still feels like enough to feel more like a sports car than a sports sedan. The E90 feels more like a sports sedan to me and I'm not confident cornering hard with it. It's harder to anticipate the E90's limits when cornering. I feel like the car handles well until it doesn't, and it's a fine line between taking a corner gracefully or having tons of body roll and traction control (or body roll and oversteer if TC is off).

Manuél Ferrari > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
10/21/2013 at 14:57

BTW have you spent much time behind the wheel of an E46 M3? If so what are your impressions?

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Manuél Ferrari
10/21/2013 at 15:21

No, I haven't. My E90 is the only BMW I've owned (and driven, excluding loaners).

I've gotten quite confident in my car, but it did take some time, both on the back roads and at the track. I don't mess around too close to the limit on the road, but got to the point where I was squealing the tires on every corner at the track my last time out.

500 lbs difference is not insignificant - I think that's where the feeling comes in that the E46 is just more planted in the corners. I'd guess the CoG is lower as well. Like you said, the E9x is faster - you just have to build up your trust and get acquainted with the limits.

For less roll, I've only read glowing reviews about these: http://www.roadandtrackbyohlins.com/

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Manuél Ferrari
10/21/2013 at 15:22

No, I haven't. My E90 is the only BMW I've owned (and driven, excluding loaners).

For less roll, I've only read glowing reviews about these: http://www.roadandtrackbyohlins.com/

Are you a regular over at M3Post?

Manuél Ferrari > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
10/21/2013 at 15:30

Thanks for the link, I'll check that product out. I'm not a regular on M3Post yet but I have skimmed some threads. I have read that the E9X benefits greatly from aftermarket mods. And there is a lot of weight that can be shaved once our cars get old enough to start stripping stuff out of without feeling really guilty about it.

That's cool that you've got your E90 on the track. The great thing about the 4 door M3 is that you can fit a lot of gear in the car. I've read that a lot of people prefer the 4 door E36 and E90 for track use because of this reason.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Manuél Ferrari
10/21/2013 at 16:38

As a dad of three, my car is a fantastic "one car to do it all" right now.

I hope I get to keep it long enough to turn it into a more dedicated fun/track car one day.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Manuél Ferrari
10/21/2013 at 16:38

As a dad of three, my car is a fantastic "one car to do it all" right now.

I hope I get to keep it long enough to turn it into a more dedicated fun/track car one day.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Manuél Ferrari
10/21/2013 at 16:39

As a dad of three, my car is a fantastic "one car to do it all" right now.

I hope I get to keep it long enough to turn it into a more dedicated fun/track car one day.

Manuél Ferrari > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
10/21/2013 at 16:43

Nice. It is a pretty awesome "do it all" car :)

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Manuél Ferrari
10/21/2013 at 17:03

Holy double and triple posts, Batman! Hope they get this figured out soon...

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Manuél Ferrari
10/21/2013 at 17:04

Holy double and triple posts, Batman! Hope they get this figured out soon...

Manuél Ferrari > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
10/21/2013 at 17:34

I only see one of each. Guess I'm lucky :)