Image Surfaces of Next 3 Series - Undisguised

VolvoMan

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/14/2012-bmw-3-series-spied-sans-all-camouflage/

-Chris-

I presume it'll look more different from other angles...

Mully_2011

It looks exactly the same as the current one

Reloc8

Flares on the bonnet look different - more subtle

They've also put indicators on the mirrors.

There also might be a rear window wiper - possibly not though

Mr Benevolent

Unremarkable again. I hate the look of the 4 door saloon 3 Series, always have.

pajo1981

That's the new 3 series

L-M

pajo1981 wrote: »

That's the newnext 3 series

FYP

pajo1981

Limerick man wrote: »

FYP

Well considering it's an all new car under the skin, I thought it would look a little less like the current model.

el diablo

If it ain't broke .......

btkm8unsl0w5r4

but..... but...... its slightly different, go out in droves an buy the one with the smallest, weakest most efficient engine possible and save hundreds in tax and fuel while loosing thousands in depreciation.....

pajo1981

Bryan Scarce Ringleader wrote: »

but..... but...... its slightly different, go out in droves an buy the one with the smallest, weakest most efficient engine possible and save hundreds in tax and fuel while loosing thousands in depreciation.....

People buy 320ds over 330ds not because of the savings in motor tax, but because there is nearly a 20k difference in price.

Voodoomelon

It looks great from the little I can see, front end looks like a smaller 7 series. 3 series is a waste of money though, such an incredibly cramped car I can't get over it.

Nonoperational

OSI wrote: »

There is 9k in the difference. But even if they were the same price the road would be littered with 320ds still. People don't want a decent high spec car. They want a (misguided) perceived prestige over their neighbour.

I think that argument is complete bollix tbh. 9k is a huge difference added to the increased running costs.

Anan1

OSI wrote: »

Never understood the appeal of the 3 series saloon.

They have never looked near as good as they do as a coupe, the average one is very poorly specced for something so expensive, and they're not exactly capacious either. So in effect you get a mediocre looking, sluggish, basic spec saloon with limited space for 30 grand plus.

If you're buying new then they're cheaper and more practical than the coupé, and spec is down to the buyer. Looks are a personal thing, but the current coupé does nothing for me - previous versions were much better resolved, IMO.

bijapos

A couple of more photos.

Internally its called the F30. Seems to be more of a genesis of the existing model than anything very radical, in design terms anyway. Whats underneath will be more interesting.






More pics here, including the Touring version (F31) and a smaller version of the 5 series GT.
http://www.autobild.de/bilder/mittelklasse-erlkoenig-so-startet-2012-der-neue-bmw-3er-f30--1684048.html#bild2

Anan1

Anan1 wrote: »

If you're buying new then they're cheaper and more practical than the coupé, and spec is down to the buyer. Looks are a personal thing, but the current coupé does nothing for me - previous versions were much better resolved, IMO.

OSI wrote: »

There is 9k in the difference. But even if they were the same price the road would be littered with 320ds still. People don't want a decent high spec car. They want a (misguided) perceived prestige over their neighbour.

And people can have a fairly well-specified 320d for the price of a very basic 330d.;)

bazz26

These threads always seem to decend into testosterone filled pi$$ing contests. Similar theme regarding the 520d, if it isn't a straight six or V8 then it's not worthy of the badge. The 320d/520d have 184bhp these days, can do 0 - 100km in less than 9 sec, go on to do 140mph while still returning a decent +40mpg. Hardly runt of the litter stuff. Some people complain that these cars are pointless but seem to forget that these are the bread winners for the likes of BMW so that they can go out and develope V8,V10, M powered engines.

Now back to the original topic. Hard to make out the photos are they are not the best but the design looks evolutionary rather than revolutinary. Seems to be the trend set by most of the German marques in the last number of years.

pajo1981

bazz26 wrote: »

These threads always seem to decend into testosterone filled pi$$ing contests. Similar theme regarding the 520d, if it isn't a straight six or V8 then it's not worthy of the badge. The 320d/520d have 184bhp these days, can do 0 - 100km in less than 9 sec, go on to do 140mph while still returning a decent +40mpg. Hardly runt of the litter stuff. Some people complain that these cars are pointless but seem to forget that these are the bread winners for the likes of BMW so that they can go out and develope V8,V10, M powered engines.

Now back to the original topic. Hard to make out the photos are they are not the best but the design looks evolutionary rather than revolutinary. Seems to be the trend set by most of the German marques in the last number of years.

the 320d is actially good for145mph and will do 0-60 in less than 8.

RedorDead

Think I will reserve judgement until I see better photos. Looks to me like its quite similar to the 5 and the 7. Same sausage, different length.

OSI wrote: »

Never understood the appeal of the 3 series saloon.

They have never looked near as good as they do as a coupe, the average one is very poorly specced for something so expensive, and they're not exactly capacious either. So in effect you get a mediocre looking, sluggish, basic spec saloon with limited space for 30 grand plus.

The extra doors over a Coupe for a start and the fact it starts 10k under a 5 Series.

Anan1 wrote: »

And people can have a fairly well-specified 320d for the price of a very basic 330d.;)

They will need to seriously either increase the equipment levels of the 3 Series or the Price of the 5 Series to kick start 3 Series again. Its been in the doldrums since 2008 now.

ofcork

They decided to copy merc and have indicators in the mirrors!

bazzachazza

gpf101 wrote: »

I think that argument is complete bollix tbh. 9k is a huge difference added to the increased running costs.

+1

Also usually typed by someone who will never buy the higher spec car brand new themselves but will always give out when someone else doesn't.

If BMW radically changed the 3 series people would whine on about how they ruined the car. I imagine BMW like most others manufactures won't mess with the design too much for fear of doing damage to sales.

JerCotter7

I thought Audi was bad using the resize button on the photocopier. This takes the biscuit. Unless I saw a F10 on that page it looks the exact same as the 5 series. E34 until E46 era was their best IMO. All the cars in between them looked so nice.

VolvoMan

ofcork wrote: »

They decided to copy merc and have indicators in the mirrors!

Nearly all manufacturers have been doing that for years now.

TestTransmission

ofcork wrote: »

They decided to copy merc and have indicators in the mirrors!

Thanks,I needed a laugh

Gumbo

bazz26 wrote: »

These threads always seem to decend into testosterone filled pi$$ing contests. Similar theme regarding the 520d, if it isn't a straight six or V8 then it's not worthy of the badge. The 320d/520d have 184bhp these days, can do 0 - 100km in less than 9 sec, go on to do 140mph while still returning a decent +40mpg. Hardly runt of the litter stuff. Some people complain that these cars are pointless but seem to forget that these are the bread winners for the likes of BMW so that they can go out and develope V8,V10, M powered engines.

Now back to the original topic. Hard to make out the photos are they are not the best but the design looks evolutionary rather than revolutinary. Seems to be the trend set by most of the German marques in the last number of years.

+1
the current 20d engine has only 10bhp less than my E39 30d engine :mad:

ofcork

TestTransmission wrote: »

Thanks,I needed a laugh

Well merc had indicators in the mirrors in the s class in 99 with the new model at the time long before others followed suit vag etc.

Dardania

RedorDead wrote: »

Think I will reserve judgement until I see better photos. Looks to me like its quite similar to the 5 and the 7. Same sausage, different length.

Quote of the day! Genius on so many levels:D

WillyWonka

ofcork wrote: »

Well merc had indicators in the mirrors in the s class in 99 with the new model at the time long before others followed suit vag etc.

Indicators in the mirrors is now an EU standard (or soon to be)

the culture of deference

JerCotter7 wrote: »

I thought Audi was bad using the resize button on the photocopier. This takes the biscuit. Unless I saw a F10 on that page it looks the exact same as the 5 series. E34 until E46 era was their best IMO. All the cars in between them looked so nice.

This is exactly what I was thinking.

Audi engineering meetings

A4
A3 = A4 x85%
A8 = A4 x 119%

etc

pburns

bazz26 wrote: »

These threads always seem to decend into testosterone filled pi$$ing contests. Similar theme regarding the 520d, if it isn't a straight six or V8 then it's not worthy of the badge. The 320d/520d have 184bhp these days, can do 0 - 100km in less than 9 sec, go on to do 140mph while still returning a decent +40mpg. Hardly runt of the litter stuff. Some people complain that these cars are pointless but seem to forget that these are the bread winners for the likes of BMW so that they can go out and develope V8,V10, M powered engines.

+1

Actually I reckon the 318d could become the 'new' 320d. The latter could be fairly thin on the ground. Hope not, but you know what Irish buyers are like. Different segment but I notice there are no Giuliettas for sale atm with the exciting 170bhp 1.4. All puny 120bhp versions (not sure they're even in a better tax band!) and 1.6ds. And Alfas are supposed to be an enthusiasts marque!

On the other hand...I'm also going to say something that will upset some petrolheads. A V8/V10 powered M-car is a waste on Irish roads considering all the inherent compromises. Fair enough if you're willing to pay through the nose for a nicer noise and a bit of extra shove between speed cameras and potholes.

kceire wrote: »

+1
the current 20d engine has only 10bhp less than my E39 30d engine :mad:

My point exactly.

JerCotter7 wrote: »

I thought Audi was bad using the resize button on the photocopier. This takes the biscuit. Unless I saw a F10 on that page it looks the exact same as the 5 series. E34 until E46 era was their best IMO. All the cars in between them looked so nice.

O come on - that's not new. it's tradition! It's been like that since the 70s, maybe before. There was probably a little more differentiation in the Bangle-era designs but not much. 5 and 7 series especially have looked virtually indistinguishable at times.