Date for your diaries!

pajo1981

Just in case you didn't know, the all new BMW 3 series - the only car that really matters this side of a Renault - will be unveiled live via web-link this Friday.

:pac:

L-M

Saw a new 1 series behind me yesterday.

Owen

It'll have the same busy cramped face as all the other ones. Huge kidney grills, huge lights, and no charisma.

166man

Owen wrote: »

It'll have the same busy cramped face as all the other ones. Huge kidney grills, huge lights, and no charisma.

The icing on the cake would be those stupid feckin' LED lights at the front making it look like a German Christmas tree.

Absurdum

Owen wrote: »

It'll have the same busy cramped face as all the other ones. Huge kidney grills, huge lights, and no charisma.

but its a BEEEEEMER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111111

Nissan doctor

pajo1981 wrote: »

Just in case you didn't know, the all new BMW 3 series - the only cars that really matters this side of a Renault - will be unveiled live via web-link this Friday.

:pac:

:rolleyes::rolleyes:

jamiecall

Its just going to look like a shrunken version of this. Not that exciting to be honest.

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/upload/12153/images/BMW5-series2010_1.jpg

Stevie Dakota

Tough audience. If they do what they did with the 5 on the inside, and sharpen up the rest what's not to like? Emissions will be down too, it's going to be hard to beat.

jamiecall

Stevie Dakota wrote: »

it's going to be hard to beat.

Until you drive one. The last one was one of the most disappointing drives ive had in a while.

Gumbo

jamiecall wrote: »

Until you drive one. The last one was one of the most disappointing drives ive had in a while.

i find my E90 sport much much better handling than any of my old E46 ones.

Absurdum

Stevie Dakota wrote: »

what's not to like? ...... Emissions will be down

Some of us can remember when "Ultimate Driving Machine" was more than just a marketing slogan!

Anan1

kceire wrote: »

i find my E90 sport much much better handling than any of my old E46 ones.

The E90 feels far more rigid than the E46, to me at least.

L-M

I wasn't impressed with the drive of the E46, more of a cruiser than anything. I wouldn't call it a sports car.

166man

It's such a pity that the E90 is just so goddamn fugly.. Purely subjective of course but still the E46 was so superior in the looks department anyway.

pajo1981

The only thing not to like about the E90 is its popularity.
Folks love to hate on stuff that's popular.

pburns

Absurdum wrote: »

Some of us can remember when "Ultimate Driving Machine" was more than just a marketing slogan!

What I find worrying is that it's not even a marketing slogan any longer! Now it's all that 'Joy!' crap.

Owen

Anan1 wrote: »

The E90 feels far more rigid than the E46, to me at least.

I've driven both extensively, and I think the e90 was a step backwards. The interior, no matter how it's specced is fugly. The centre tunnel doesn't mate with the centre of the dash properly, the centre of the dash was designed with a ruler, the plastics and materials used all have evidence of cost cutting cheapness, even the gearstick is uncomfortable to hold in your hand. Other things I disliked about the e90 compared to the e46, was if you went for something like heated seats on the e46, you got those buttons. If you went for any optional extras on the e90, they gave you the buttons, and gifted you with a line of blank buttons next to it kind rubbing your nose in the fact that your car is missing those additional features.

The e46's interior was built to be driver orientated (The dash curves around the driver), was built with materials that are pleasant to touch, and built to feel like a premium buying experience. The e90's interior was built down to a price, it's harsh, panels don't line up or connect together properly, in my opinion wasn't built to last but was built to be recycled.

And that's just the interior! Don't get me started on the exterior

Stevie Dakota

E60 and E90 were a fall from grace in both interior materials and ergonomics, 7, 6 and 5 series show a return to form, I would be very surprised if the new 3 did not show a big improvement inside.

pajo1981

Owen wrote: »

I've driven both extensively, and I think the e90 was a step backwards. The interior, no matter how it's specced is fugly. The centre tunnel doesn't mate with the centre of the dash properly, the centre of the dash was designed with a ruler, the plastics and materials used all have evidence of cost cutting cheapness, even the gearstick is uncomfortable to hold in your hand. Other things I disliked about the e90 compared to the e46, was if you went for something like heated seats on the e46, you got those buttons. If you went for any optional extras on the e90, they gave you the buttons, and gifted you with a line of blank buttons next to it kind rubbing your nose in the fact that your car is missing those additional features.

The e46's interior was built to be driver orientated (The dash curves around the driver), was built with materials that are pleasant to touch, and built to feel like a premium buying experience. The e90's interior was built down to a price, it's harsh, panels don't line up or connect together properly, in my opinion wasn't built to last but was built to be recycled.

And that's just the interior! Don't get me started on the exterior

The e90s interior is kind of spartan and angular, but the fit and finish and materials used are all of a very high quality.

I think what you're seeing as things not lining up is more design rather than build inconsistency.

Owen

pajo1981 wrote: »

The e90s interior is kind of spartan and angular, but the fit and finish and materials used are all of a very high quality.

I think what you're seeing as things not lining up is more design rather than build inconsistency.

I'm not really. I've probably more experience with both cars than anyone else on this forum. A simple test is to push the centre armrest on both cars. On the e46, it's a plush cushioned surface with high quality leather. On the e90, there's hardly any foam underneath, and the leather might aswell be PVC it's that cheap.

VolvoMan

166man wrote: »

It's such a pity that the E90 is just so goddamn fugly.. Purely subjective of course but still the E46 was so superior in the looks department anyway.

Few people would actually believe it, but the E46 was a Chris Bangle design as well. It's just BMW kept him on a tight leash when designing it.

I think BMW had perfection with the E39. It felt far higher quality than the E60 and didn't need an M-Sport kit to look decent.

mailforkev

And it's revealed.

http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/AllCars/259573/

It's basically a F10 5 Series that bumped into a photocopier. Much better looking than the last saloon at least. I quite like the headlights cutting in towards the grille.

Berty

Nice, now lets see a 316d ES model to get an idea of what the streets will soon look like.

VolvoMan

Not bad really.

I hate the current BMW steering wheels though, as well as the design of the gearshifter on auto models. They are such messy looking pieces of design.

R.O.R

From the side it looks a lot like a...........................3 Series.

5 Series Nose is nice, along with the 5 series rear. Also like the 5 series interior, and unlike VolvoMan, I'm a big fan of the auto shifter knob.

If priced like for like with the A4, it will sell by the bucketload, as the sector it is aimed at is generally more interested in the badge and image the car projects, rather than how good the car itself is. Having the newest model in the car park is what it's all about - that's why the A4 outsold the 3 Series with ourselves by a huge margin in 09, 10 and 11.

bazz26

Typical ES/SE underwhelming and conservative styling, looks too similar to the E90 and I hate the E90 in ES/SE trim also. I'll wait to see the M Sport before passing final judgement though.

VolvoMan

R.O.R wrote: »

Also like the 5 series interior, and unlike VolvoMan, I'm a big fan of the auto shifter knob.

How?

I think it looks like a silver cock.

ofcork

I think it looks similar to the 7 series which is not a bad thing.

RedorDead

R.O.R wrote: »

If priced like for like with the A4, it will sell by the bucketload, as the sector it is aimed at is generally more interested in the badge and image the car projects, rather than how good the car itself is. Having the newest model in the car park is what it's all about - that's why the A4 outsold the 3 Series with ourselves by a huge margin in 09, 10 and 11.

Will be interesting to see the price alright. New A4 facelift pics come out next month so it will be a dogfight between the two of them in early 2012.

Back to 3 Series .... I think its an improvement on the current model, front looks strange side on though. Looks like it crashed into something and has buckled.

mailforkev

bazz26 wrote: »

I'll wait to see the M Sport before passing final judgement though.

Here you go, It actually makes it look even more like the current model.

qz

I'm a big BMW fan, but any 3 series saloon post-e46 just looks limp. Still would though. Saw a new 5 series in white yesterday, looked great.

VolvoMan

mailforkev wrote: »

I was sold on the standard design, but the M Sport isn't doing anything for me at all.

PARKHEAD67

Absurdum wrote: »

but its a BEEEEEMER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111111

Luxury at its finest;).Apart from Mercs and Lexus.(and possibly the 11 SAAB)

-Corkie-

PARKHEAD67 wrote: »

Luxury at its finest;).Apart from Mercs and Lexus.(and possibly the 11 SAAB)

I would much prefer a A4 saloon tbh especially a s line..

PARKHEAD67

-Corkie- wrote: »

I would much prefer a A4 saloon tbh especially a s line..

The new A4 is nice alright. But it is already as common as muck, just like the old a4.The new Saab is ice cool IMO.I've only seen 2 on the road but by god they stand out.Class looking cars.;)

mickdw

Im very surprised to say that I quite like it. Much cleaner than the 5 series imo.

-Corkie-

PARKHEAD67 wrote: »

The new A4 is nice alright. But it is already as common as muck, just like the old a4.The new Saab is ice cool IMO.I've only seen 2 on the road but by god they stand out.Class looking cars.;)

Yes they are ultra rare indeed. Interiors are a let down though compared to the exterior but then again the current 3 series is no great shakes on the inside either.

PARKHEAD67

-Corkie- wrote: »

Yes they are ultra rare indeed. Interiors are a let down though compared to the exterior but then again the current 3 series is no great shakes on the inside either.

I havent seen the interior, but the SAAB is a real eye-catcher. But the interior you talk of is prob bog-spec Irish.I'd imagine the top of the range ones are stunning.As with most cars I suppose. I just thought that the new SAABs that I saw stood out so much.And for all the right reasons.I'd love one.:)