3 Series (F30) [Spyshots] BMW 3 Series Facelift

[DblPen]

i really doubt its true for every f30 ^^ at least i hope its not

 

[martinbo]

Mine does exactly the same thing.

It's an affliction of many a German car - not just BMW - and I first encountered it back in '99 in my Mk 4 GTI. I call it the snap-crackle-pop effect. The current B8 A4 and A5 Audis suffer from it too as do many other German models. The reason for it basically stems from the separate fitment of HVAC and Multimedia components and the plastic panelling around these. Where there's a panel gap or a trim join - you're likely to get this effect. Fortunately it doesn't rattle when the car is on the move.

None of my Subarus ever portrayed this problem simply because the simpler, cheaper dashboards have less fancy designs and equipment.

 

[bilen]

Yes the 318i and lower engines go three cylinder as does the 1er to mimic the choices in the Active Tourer.
The next 518i will also have a three cylinder. Its downsizing without loss of power and an increase in efficiency.
It also conforms to the lightweight philosophy as the engine itself is not very heavy.

To mimic the Active tourer choices. Would that mean that the 318 will get the 134 hp 3-cyl?
I hope we will se a 165-175 hp 3-cyl to replace todays 318.

 

[klier]

The 3er facelift has never been extensive. There is nothing to really improve - a fine looking automobile IMO.

What?
E90 and E46 don't exist?

Also, LOL at the desperate MB fanboys in this thread.
The pre facelift 'old' F30 already beats the W205, the FL will destroy it.

 

[martinbo]

What?
E90 and E46 don't exist?

Also, LOL at the desperate MB fanboys in this thread.
The pre facelift 'old' F30 already beats the W205, the FL will destroy it.

What was so extensive about those facelifts? An E-Klasse facelift - that's extensive. Not little scallop changes or a new bumper here and there or the odd light cluster revision...

 

[Zafiro]

An E-Klasse facelift - that's extensive.

It was needed. 5-series totally killing the E-class in sales. I don't understand the obsession with a major facelift. If its not needed, leave it alone. Changing just for the sake of it is pointless.

 

[klugscheisser87]

I know they can't change the weird looking greenhouse, but wish they could make it more premium looking at least, the front looks too busy and it's aging fast, especially after the C-Class is out, not to mention the cheap looking interior, it's the worst in its segment. We'll see the new A4 soon, BMW just have to make a major update if they want to keep sales on a good level, otherwise we will see the f30 for few more years far behind its fresh looking competitors.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

It was needed. 5-series totally killing the E-class in sales. I don't understand the obsession with a major facelift. If its not needed, leave it alone. Changing just for the sake of it is pointless.

I love sweeping statements like this that fail to acknowledge the SOLE reason for the 5 killing the E-class in sales was because of the catastrophe MB China was. Remove the Chinese market from the equation and Mercedes was the highest selling luxury car manufacturer last year. So no, the E-class was/is not the piece of crap in desperate need of a major facelift that you're trying to make it out to be. It got such extensive surgery because there was clearly a massive shift within the design department of MB and such a core model had to be brought in line with the newer design idiom.

 

[tomazino]

So, remove all markets where Merc is doing bad, and.....bang, Mercedes is best selling luxury brand.
And in sales figures for 2014 they add Vito or V-class, and Mercedes is 16% up in jan and feb. Great))
Btw. 5 series literaly destroy E class in Germany in last 4 years.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Nope, just remove one market where MB's management, not product, has been a catastrophe and you get a better idea of the bigger picture. The E outsells the 5 in some markets and vice versa. But the suggestion that the E got such an extensive facelift solely due to poor sales is incorrect.

 

[Zafiro]

I love sweeping statements like this that fail to acknowledge the SOLE reason for the 5 killing the E-class in sales was because of the catastrophe MB China was. Remove the Chinese market from the equation and Mercedes was the highest selling luxury car manufacturer last year. So no, the E-class was/is not the piece of crap in desperate need of a major facelift that you're trying to make it out to be. It got such extensive surgery because there was clearly a massive shift within the design department of MB and such a core model had to be brought in line with the newer design idiom.

Of course it not a crap car but total sales 5-series did sell better than the E. I remember the articles...there is a reason why the changes were so expensive. Stop being so defensive and bite the sour apple

 

[deity]

I don't recall a single publication giving the nod to the 3 in the interior department yet. And in terms of E90/46 being a small facelift...I can't think of many significant panels both in and outside the car that haven't been changed.

 

[wL0316]

Everything on the 3 series except for the rear should be changed. Especially that ghastly interior, which is just utter crap IMO. Needs to move way up in terms of materials and start LOOKING the part too. Even the A4 has more dignity these days.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

Disgusting sound.

I don't recall a single publication giving the nod to the 3 in the interior department yet.

Yeah, the interior is THAT bad. We got your point. Let's move on?

 

[bmwownage]

IMO and as an owner of both the e46 and e90, got to say 1) this refresh doesn't look enough for the f30 and 2) both the e46 and e90 LCI had much more changes.
MB aside because they are in their own world when it comes to facelifts, but the E46 was hugely freshened up, as pointed out. The F30 imo needs some treatment to the kidney grille and the headlights, it's way to squar-ish... i have seen excellent examples when people just mod it, lower it, blacken the grille and the whole car looks superb, but in standard, especially the lower end trims, this car looks a bit dull. It has a nice aggressive hood sculpture but in those standard trim, it doesn't work, it's like we have a hood shape from 2014, but the rest of the car is from 2005, or in fact the whole greenhouse is pretty similar to the E46 from 1998.

And man i hope they do something about the interior. quality aside i think the layout is too messy, and to be honest i find that red/blue line a little silly for a BMW. marginally OK if it was a 1/2er but it's a bit of a joke for a 3er.

I can't say the C class looks overly superb against the current F30, i mean in standard trim the C class might give the instant impression to look a little more premium but not if you look deeper. I think Audi does best in this segment, a low end trimmed A4 doesn't look very cheap at all.

 

[klier]

What was so extensive about those facelifts? An E-Klasse facelift - that's extensive. Not little scallop changes or a new bumper here and there or the odd light cluster revision...

Disagree big time. The fafelifted rear lights of the E90 completely transformed the car. As much as the W212's front was changed after the FL. And then I don't even have to mention the completely new non moustache grille on the facelift.

And the E46 got a completely new front. New grille, new lights and new bumper. Again, as different as the so-much-mentioned W212 FL.

 

[SCOTT27]

Disagree big time. The fafelifted rear lights of the E90 completely transformed the car. As much as the W212's front was changed after the FL. And then I don't even have to mention the completely new non moustache grille on the facelift.

And the E46 got a completely new front. New grille, new lights and new bumper. Again, as different as the so-much-mentioned W212 FL.

Yes. I preferred the quad lights. It gives the E-Klasse an identity. Now they are all the same practically.

 

[deity]

Admittedly, BMW is very good at doing facelifts. I feel like the 5GT is the perfect way to do a FL whereas the E-Class way is the worst. Just saw the changes made to the 5GT FL a few days ago, and small, subtle changes really made a big difference. The same can be said about the F10 FL as well as the X3. BMW really knows how to make careful, subtle, yet significant changes.

 

[SCOTT27]

BMW facelifts are always subtle and are mainly enhanced by technology or engineering updates to the car such as LEDs and slight re sculpturing on the body to accommodate new engines and better cooling and aerodynamics. A BMW LCI is also subtle in order to not impact as much on the original especially in resale value. But the defining factor is customer evaluation where they ask don't change a thing.

The 5er GT is a perfect example of integrating updated technology. Such as LEDs to enhance the appearance and add better solution to the design in which case it minimalists the bulk at the rear of the car.
The next 5er GT gets a slight stretch allowing for a more sleeker roofline yet still maintain the key points that define the Gran Turismo.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

.........yet still maintain the key points that define the Gran Turismo.

So, people still looking at it and thinking "why?"

 

[Monster]

The next 5er GT gets a slight stretch allowing for a more sleeker roofline yet still maintain the key points that define the Gran Turismo.

So..what are the key points? I admit I haven't been reading a lot of BMW's recent press materials so I wouldn't have clue.