SPIED! 2012 BMW (F30) 3 Series (Spy shots, Impressions & Info)

Discussion in '3 Series' started by KokkenTor, Oct 29, 2008.

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  1. dr Dunkel Global Moderator

    Yes, I think BMW has their work cut out if they are going to best the E90.
    dr Dunkel, Jun 12, 2009
    #81

  2. Human BMW's my Brand

    The E46 was a MASTERPIECE! The BMW that worried MB and Audi so much that for a long time they thought that they'd never catch up again.
    The interior finish of the E46 rivaled much larger and expensive cars.

    I think it was Merc with the poor fit & finish on the W203 who misled BMW into thinking - 'Yipee! Now we can make our cars cheaper and uglier and make more money!' Well with the new A4 Audi was tricked too - really not the typical Audi quality that is always talked about.

    BRING BACK THE I C O N, BRING BACK THE E46 QUALITY & NICE LOOKS - BMW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:eusa_pray
    Human, Jun 12, 2009
    #82

  3. martinbo Global Moderator / Editor

    ^ Hmmm, and I thought you were German! Not a fellow South African. Interesting - explains many things. :)

    The interior quality of the E46 was exceptional. But, here's the news flash - most car makers are downgrading the quality of their interior plastics for two reasons: lowered input costs and material recyclability. So, you will find harder, lower polyurethane content dashboard materials in many modern cars compared with their predecessors.

    The debate on hand here is that the E90 is actually a darned nice vehicle to look at when one removes the sentimental rose-tinted glasses of faded memories. Certainly, to my mind it looks better than both the C-Class and the new A4 and yet, it's the oldest of the three.
    martinbo, Jun 12, 2009
    #83
    • Like Like x 2

  4. coolraoul Well-Known Member

    Well, you like the Subarus, so...:D


    You're right about the plastics: the problem is recucling, and ecology.

    Green plastics (reducting the pollution occured during the manufacturing process of the material) as well as the recycling ease are making most modern plastics less pleasant to look at/touch than before.

    They are however very expensive for the carmaker...

    BTW, does it show that much that I'm a lawyer? I hope not...:D
    coolraoul, Jun 12, 2009
    #84

  5. martinbo Global Moderator / Editor

    That's a good point. So you're saying that because I like Subarus as an owner, driver and instructor that I have questionable taste in car styling? Nice try :D - you are so a lawyer. ;)

    Understand this, I know better that anyone you've ever met or spoken to on any internet forum why a Subaru looks the way it does. Yes, lately they've got dodgy styling but much of that stems from what's underneath the sheetmetal. [Combined with a complete lack of design direction]

    Now, because I can appreciate the merits of technically impressive yet dull-looking Subarus, this places me in a far better position to judge the styling of cars from makers of all kinds who have less self-imposed constraints placed upon them.

    Car styling is a secret favourite topic of mine. I spend a lot of time reading up on car design, terminology and technical rules. If you have a plain old objective look at an E90 you will see that - according to established schools of thought - the 3er is:

    a. Perfectly proportioned: (3 & 1/2 wheel rule wheelbase; A-pillar line intersects with front wheel centre; rear wheel centre aligns with centre of C-pillar; DLO is 1/3 of total height of the vehicle; bottom door shutline lines up perfectly with wheel centres; and so on...) [Notice I didn't even mention the over-used "short front overhang" point]

    b. Instantly recognisable as nothing but a BMW: strong DRG.

    c. Through the use of modern metal surfacing has the necessary visual tension to create a sporty, dynamic image - even when the car is stationary

    So tell me, is that enough of an informed opinion for you despite my appreciation for the only car that's never let me down. Ever.

    :t-cheers:
    martinbo, Jun 12, 2009
    #85
    • Like Like x 4

  6. Human BMW's my Brand

    From German descent, but proudly South-African! Please to meet you my fellow countrymen!

    Regarding the plastics, that is a pitty. The E70 X5 has nice soft touch plastics that is matt in finish, so does the X6. Looking at the E46 & E53 you can see that even on the
    E70 and E90 lower grade / greener plastics are used in areas not so in your face....

    I like the E90 and do think the interior quality is better than it's newest rivals. Though not on par with the E46.
    Human, Jun 12, 2009
    #86
    • Like Like x 2

  7. martinbo Global Moderator / Editor

    ^ The same can and is being said about the B8 A4 vs. the B7 - as you alluded to in your earlier post.
    martinbo, Jun 12, 2009
    #87

  8. Human BMW's my Brand

    Martinbo koud in die RSA nê!?:xmas-s10:

    I know we are talking about the upcoming 3er, though I do want to mention BMW learning from their mistakes with the 1er. My wifes 120i titanium silver pre-facelift interior are made of such cheap plastics, looks like you can hose them of! With the facelift variants BMW corrected their mistake and hopefully kept that one in mind...so future BMW - Like the upcoming 3er would benefit from better quality materials :)
    Human, Jun 12, 2009
    #88

  9. Centurion Contributing Member

    Very much so. Quality can shift between generations depending on the company objectives of the car. If ratings in quality polls has slipped then they tend to up their game and if the company's reputation is satisfactory then cutting corners is way of increasing profits.
    Centurion, Jun 12, 2009
    #89

  10. martinbo Global Moderator / Editor

    Human... Een van my kollegas stuur vir my 'n email wat sê dis "Moer Koud!". Maar ja, bietjie warmer vandag dink ek! LOL

    [We're not really allowed to delve into local lingo on this forum... ;)]

    Plastic quality is also a very subjective thing. Just because the plastic surface doesn't depress 0.2 mm with a well-aimed finger prod and now the car is perceived as poor quality in general. I think a 1er is very nicely screwed together, despite some harder plastics being used. As long as it doesn't rattle - I'm happy.
    martinbo, Jun 12, 2009
    #90

  11. Human BMW's my Brand

    I will give that to my wife's car, done 20 000km - no rattles. But matt and soft touch is a must for a premium product with a premium price.....

    Regarding the next 3er...I wonder if we will see the upcoming 3er GT before the rest of the range, as we did with the 5er GT???
    Human, Jun 12, 2009
    #91

  12. coolraoul Well-Known Member

    Haha, I didn't want to question your taste... Was merely a joke. Even if the most recent Subarus look like sh!t to my eyes (the previous models weren't that bad, and their technical qualities did more than excuse their absence of design prowess).

    However, concerning the e90... For me it just doesn't look that good. The flanks are too heavy, the pre-FL nostrils are ugly.
    And don't get me started with the rear lights, pre-FL they a shame and after-FL, a big red blob.

    Proportions are not bad, yes, but the detailing is (in my very humble opinion) quite poorly executed. You clearly see Bangle wanted more, but was restrained, and the result is this. It doesn't look like it was penned with enthusiasm.

    I even prefer the daring e65 "The Pig" 7er tot he e90. And the e60 5er is miles ahead of it.

    To each his own... I consider the 204 C-Class to be, by far, the best looking of the three. Previously it was the e46 Bimmer.

    And if a car design was only a matter of getting the maths right, all cars would look good and identical to each other.

    Even with the technical contraints of a car, design is highly personal and doesn't please every one, which is further proof of it no being about maths only.

    Design is above all about emotions, which is why there is so much diversity... and so many arguing about design.

    Anf that's just what makes it fun!

    :t-cheers:
    coolraoul, Jun 12, 2009
    #92
    • Like Like x 2

  13. EnI Contributing Member

    Huckfeldt's New 3er impression ...

    [IMG]

    Compare it to H's 5er impression: HERE ;)
    EnI, Jun 25, 2009
    #93

  14. jack Well-Known Member

    wasn't the 3series supposed to carry the new trapezoid grills ?
    jack, Jun 25, 2009
    #94

  15. Foxfire Active Member

    The impression looks good
    Foxfire, Jun 25, 2009
    #95

  16. Deutsch Well-Known Member

    I'd hit it.
    Deutsch, Jun 25, 2009
    #96
    • Like Like x 2

  17. SCOTT27 Contributing Member

    I woud say that this has much more in common with the incoming F10 5er.
    Huckfeldt is far too early to give an intimate impression of the new 3er, expect this to change over the next year or so.
    SCOTT27, Jun 25, 2009
    #97

  18. rurella Premium Member

    Do we now how much larger the F35 will get? I would consider "downsizing" if it was approaching e39 dimensions.
    rurella, Jun 25, 2009
    #98

  19. Artmic New Member

    That red 3 rendering has to be a joke, if that is how the new Volvo(er, i mean BMW 3) is going to look like, then there is no way in hell i'd get a 3 series. lol
    Artmic, Jun 25, 2009
    #99

  20. EnI Contributing Member

    Therefore I named the file 5ernot3er.jpg :D;)
    EnI, Jun 25, 2009
    #100
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