3 Series (G20/G21/G28) [Official] BMW 3 Series (G20)

[CrunchSlaughtered]

and electric ball scratcher?

This is a vary important safety feature, because it allows the driver to have both hands on the steering wheel, but I would call it "handsfree jerking"

 

[Beemer B773ER]

This is a vary important safety feature, because it allows the driver to have both hands on the steering wheel, but I would call it "handsfree jerking"

Agreed, but there is a lot to consider. How do you activate it? Motion gesture? A button? If it's a button, what's the icon the button supposed to be? Maybe there's sensors in the seat that detect discomfort. How many settings will it have? What will be the internal designation code since SAC is already taken? Will there be an M version with even more power and a button colored in red!? How about a battery powered portable i version?

 

[SKY]

He could still have designed the 3. The X3 and Z4 are completely different too. It's the head of design that's in charge of the brief and dictates the design. Overall the design G20 is evolutionary. Put the new head and tail lights on the F30 and it would look very similar. The designer had very little creative freedom.

Not sure if serious. There is not a single line in the G20 that relates to the F30. The entire profile has different creases, different glasshouse. The front end and rear ends are noticiably different too.

 

[klier]

How do you activate it? Motion gesture?

Of course, and we all know what the gesture is.....

Not sure if serious. There is not a single line in the G20 that relates to the F30. The entire profile has different creases, different glasshouse. The front end and rear ends are noticiably different too.

Me neither. Every single line is different. Every single detail, every surface, the wheelbase, width, the proportions, and everything. Every single centimeter of this car.

The side by side comparisons make it painfully obvious in every aspect.

 

[rollo]

Still digging the m sport and happy belated birthday @klier.

 

[Giannis]

The need for an electrically adjustable steering column doesn't apply to me either, and I'm not saying I agree with MercFan's post, but if you share a car with someone, the ability to set the car up to your liking, with the electric mirrors and steering column to your settings, the favourites on the iDrive, radio stations, climate control setti...

Sharing the car means that you have to adjust more than the steering wheel. It also includes the side mirrors, seat and central mirror. I do share both my cars and the only thing that bugs me is the central mirror. Everything else is a mechanical action that takes no more than a second.

That said, having this feature is very useful. But electric seats with memory plus electric steering wheel are both expensive options, which are pretty much out of the question when you try to spec up a bottom of the line 3er.

If I were in the market for a 60k 3er it could bug me, but if I were to buy the 30k version, I couldn't care less.

 

[Giannis]

That said, one thing that does bug me in entry level german cars is the seats. The seats you get in an entry level 316i, A4 or C are just seats. I recently had a short ride with the new A4 and the moment I sat in my S60 again, the seat felt like heaven on earth.

 

[Centurion]

Not sure if serious. There is not a single line in the G20 that relates to the F30. The entire profile has different creases, different glasshouse. The front end and rear ends are noticiably different too.

I'm not criticising the car as the F30 is still a gorgeous car and BMW have executed the G20 beautifully. All I'm trying to put across is that it's an evolutionary design compared with E30 to E36, E36 to F46 or E46 to F30.

 

[klier]

All I'm trying to put across is that it's an evolutionary design compared with E30 to E36, E36 to F46 or E46 to F30.

No love for the E90?

 

[MercFan]

Do you honestly think that what makes a good car in the entry level luxury segment is the availability or not of ventilated seats, electric steering column and electric ball scratcher?

I thought that these cars were about comfort-handling balance, ride quality, interior ambience and brand cache.

As far as that is concerned, even an entry level 316d tick...

I see a contradiction here. The word LUXURY means LUXURY options available for me. The car should have a balance in every aspect. That means a good engine, good chassis, good design, premium materials, some premium options, some high tech technologies. That's why i didn't buy BMW F30 after my E90 - poor interior. And that's why I didn't buy W205 - didn't like the chassis (haven't tried facelift so far).

316d??? Are you serious? Its not a car. I'd rather walk on foot than buying that paralyzed snail!

 

[MercFan]

The 3-Series is a premium car. If you want a luxury car then the 5-Series is the car you need.

It has several creature comforts not available to the G20.

Ventilated seats are a must have nowadays in any premium car. It's not a luxury option anymore like it was 20 years ago. A while ago I was thinking about buying X3. And the only thing that slowed me down was an idea "can i install X5 seats in X3".

The seat is the most important part of any car. If i don't like the seats I don't even bother driving this car.

 

[MercFan]

We should no longer take into account those imbecilities. The 3 Series was, is and will always be a benchmark in this segment. And it has proven it time and time again. And this argument cannot be contradicted by anyone, not even by crazy MB fanboys. It's a fact.

If a person calls another person an imbecile, can the second person call the first person a retarded fagg? Just asking.

 

[bmwblog]

"Ladies and Gentleman of the media,virtue signallers and information clearing houses. Thank you for attending our X5 launch here in Atlanta. For a final experience we have a final surprise for you. We have brought the all new X2 M35i today and although you cannot get behind the wh
eel today. We have given you an exclusive preview. Please go and experience...

Still don't think that's experiencing the car. Driving it would be.

Anyway...will let you know when those start.

 

[Matski]

If a person calls another person an imbecile, can the second person call the first person a retarded fagg? Just asking.

An imbecile is an idiot.
A retard is a term for a person with a mental disability.
And a Fagg(?), I'm guessing is a term for a homosexual.

Using two of those things as an insult, is not the same as using the other one.

 

[Jan]

 

[Sovereign]

G20's front, interior and profile are much improved over F30, but the rear of the F30 is far better. G20 is more Asian style (Lexus and KIA) and generic IMO. F30 rear design was all original BMW.

 

[Cashmere]

I've got to say, this car looks sensational, both inside & out. The blue one with the M wheels looks amazing considering it is not even the peri-peri M3. In this spec it, its hard to fault and IMO best-in class design.

Now the the next thing I'm going to say is probably going to get disliked by many, but I will say it anyway. While this car looks sensational, I don't think the looks are going to be enough for the 3 series to sustain its position as the category defining car which it has enjoyed for many decades.

IMO, The biggest reason behind the eventual decline of the 3 series sales (starting with North America, followed by Europe/China & eventually ROW) will not be its choice of interior plastics or the manually adjusting steering column, but its powertrain. I was really hoping BMW would show something credible with the 330e but it seems like yet another half-arsed attempt from BMW. By the time the G20 goes on sale, the $35K Model 3 SR will be in its production stride and the amount of technology offered on the SR will make the G20 320d look overpriced. I don't want to make this a 3 Series vs Model 3 thread so I'm going to end this right here but I think it is important to address the elephant in the room: the new kid on the block which has been around less than a decade is outselling the Lexus IS, 3 series, A4, C Class, and BMW have chosen to completely ignore it (for now).

Back to the G20, I would spec mine exactly like this, what a looker!

 

[hovabongZA]

So no 48V as speculated?

 

[Matski]

the new kid on the block which has been around less than a decade is outselling the Lexus IS, 3 series, A4, C Class, and BMW have chosen to completely ignore it (for now)

BMW's range of electrified vehicles (including those "half-assed" hybrids) is currently outselling Tesla's total output. The 3 series is not being outsold by the Model III, it had sold 192,000 units by the end of Q2. To consider the Model III as being able to compete with this number, you have to only focus on certain markets, or put hypothetical scenarios in place. If or when Tesla can satisfy demand on a global scale, then it will be clear where there is problem.

For now... BMW makes €8,000,000,000 profit a year. They have announced their road-map to electrification and that will come to pass within the next 4 years.

I don't disagree this 3 series will have a harder time than nearly all that came before it, not least from in house competition with the X3 and then the iX3, and then the i4.

There's a really simple mantra for BMW's approach. For the masses... the right product, at the right time, at the right price.

 

[martinbo]

@Cashmere - the Model 3, like all Teslas, is recognisably groundbreaking and innovative. However, that being said:
a) it is not globally relevant
b) still constrained in terms of availability
c) controversially laid out in terms of driver interface and ergonomic efficiency
d) cabin quality remains an area of doubt
So, despite all the electric car benefits - of which I am a proponent - we're still not quite in the true electric car age. This is a period of transition and the infrastructure to support ICE vehicles is still pervasive and massive enough to ensure that combustion-engined cars remain relevant for the next 10 to 20 years, maybe even more. I only see the Model 3 as a 3 Series competitor in very select regions and definitely not in 3rd world countries.

Presently and globally speaking, the Model 3 is an innovator but not yet a disruptor. Another key consideration is that, at this stage, Tesla is attracting electric car early adopters and converts but it is yet to address the issue of convincing people who don't like electric cars. And there are still lots of them.

This G20 will still be the frame of reference for the class for some time to come at which point who knows how far we will have gotten with automobile electrification. As such, the G20 is on point for now.